Danny Rohl faces the biggest challenge of his managerial career after Rangers’ disappointing end to the season exposed serious flaws within the squad.
Rangers’ 2025-26 campaign effectively collapsed after consecutive Premiership defeats against Motherwell, Heart of Midlothian and Celtic following the split.
The latest defeat in the Old Firm derby at Celtic Park confirmed Rangers would finish third in the Scottish Premiership and miss out on a place in the Champions League qualifiers.
It has now sparked another summer of uncertainty at Ibrox, with fresh questions emerging over both the squad and Rohl’s future amid reported interest from Germany.
Rohl’s strong start fading fast
When Rohl arrived in October, Rangers were already in crisis. The German inherited a squad struggling for consistency and trailing league leaders Hearts by 13 points.
For a while, the turnaround looked remarkable. Rangers briefly climbed to the top of the table on goal difference at the start of April and appeared genuine title contenders.
However, the collapse since the split has been dramatic.
Rangers have now lost three consecutive league games for the first time since 2000 and failed in every major competition this season, exiting the League Cup, Scottish Cup and title race within weeks.
Despite the criticism, Rohl insisted after the Celtic defeat that he remains clear about what the team must improve.
The Rangers boss admitted his side failed in key moments and accepted that costly defensive mistakes and poor mentality continue to hurt the club during pressure situations.
Defensive problems continue to haunt Rangers
While Rangers have scored freely in recent weeks, defensive weaknesses have undermined any progress.
The side has conceded 13 goals in their last five matches, with several performances raising major concerns about organisation, leadership and composure at the back.
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd criticised the defending at Celtic Park and questioned whether some players show enough pride defensively.
Attention has particularly focused on defenders Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez, with criticism that Rangers lack aggression and resilience when matches become difficult.
Former Scotland international James McFadden also questioned the mentality within the squad, suggesting Rangers fail to maintain intensity once they take the lead in games.
Another rebuild already underway
Rangers already spent heavily this season, reportedly investing close to £40 million into the squad, although several departures helped balance the finances.
Now, another rebuild appears inevitable.
Many supporters expect significant changes this summer, with uncertainty surrounding several players signed during the previous recruitment cycle. Former midfielder Andy Halliday believes Rangers may need multiple new defenders and midfielders if they are to challenge again next season.
The absence of Champions League qualification will further complicate recruitment plans, reducing available finances and potentially delaying transfer activity until later in the window.
That situation could leave Rangers paying inflated fees or missing priority targets altogether.
Pressure growing on Rohl
The Rangers support remains divided over whether Rohl should continue.
Some fans believe the 37-year-old deserves time after inheriting a difficult situation midway through the season. Others argue his side’s collapse in decisive matches proves he is not the right man to lead the club forward.
Criticism has intensified because Rangers repeatedly failed to respond when momentum shifted during big games. Defeats against Hearts and Celtic particularly raised concerns about the team’s mentality under pressure.
Despite that, Rohl has insisted he remains committed to improving the group and leading the rebuild.
Massive summer ahead at Ibrox
Rangers now face another crucial off-season as Celtic continue pushing for further domestic dominance under Martin O’Neill.
The club must rebuild confidence, improve the defence and address mentality concerns while operating without the financial security of Champions League football.
Whether Rohl remains the man trusted to oversee that process could define Rangers’ next few seasons.
For now, one thing is clear — another painful reset has arrived at Ibrox.
Discussion about this post