Rangers

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "It feels good because we won the game today. This is a big compliment to my group. It shows a lot about the character and mentality and quality to win games.

"It's not just that we win games, but also we score a lot of goals as well. That's also a big compliment to the group.

"I like clean sheets and the last two games we've conceded one and then two today. It's a little bit too much for me because we needed four goals and in some games you won't have the chance for four goals.

"We need to be stronger against the ball. But we want to play exciting football and in some phases of the game we played enjoyable football.

"Now we have to move on. At 2-0 and 3-1 you feel our quality - we were finding the spaces and being really brave. But then you bring your opponent back which was unnecessary. The 2-1 can happen, but the 3-2 we should never allow because we had a lot of situations before to score four or five.

"We took our three points and did our hard work. I don't focus on opponents - if we win six games, we win the league."

Rangers are top of the Scottish Premiership for the first time in two years - but only after a frantic and ultimately nervy win against Dundee United at Ibrox.

How significant a win was that for Rangers? What did you make of the performance?

Have your say.

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PSV Eindhoven are monitoring Rangers and Portugal Under-21 forward Youssef Chermiti, 21. (ED - subscription required, in Dutch), external

Rangers are gearing up for an ambitious summer transfer window, with BK Hacken talent Silas Andersen and Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson on their list of targets, along with Dundee centre-half Luke Graham. (TeamTalk), external

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Rangers boss Danny Rohl refused to name one player who will miss the game due to a training injury.

Denmark winger Andreas Skov Olsen returns to the squad after recovering from an injury.

Dundee United are set to be without Johnny Russell (calf), Kristijan Trapanovski and Isaac Pappoe (both knee).

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Rangers midfielder Tochi Chukwuani is eyeing "more magical moments" after a "fantastic" start to life in Glasgow.

The 23-year-old Dane joined from Sturm Graz in January and has impressed supporters with his all-action performances, netting two goals in 11 games across all competitions.

Having clawed their way back into the title race, Rangers can go top of the league for the first time in two years with victory at home to Dundee United on Saturday before Hearts and Celtic play on Sunday.

And Chukwuani has been enjoying every minute since he touched down in Glasgow.

"It's been fantastic experiencing the fans, experiencing the stadium," he said.

"I think it's just like a dream to play here. You just want to create more magical moments, especially with the fan group that's here.

"This is something you look back at and you just think, wow, what a magical place.

"Yes, I know it [winning the league] would mean the world to people, especially when you walk around the city, and everyone is talking about the 56.

"You can just hear people screaming at you, walking down the road, you can feel the passion.

"And when you step on the pitch, you just want to give everything in your power back to the fans with great displays and a lot of wins."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Danny Rohl says Emmanuel Fernandez is a "role model" for Rangers' player development strategy after the defender's progress from Ibrox fringe player to Nigeria international.

The 24-year-old was plucked from England's third tier when he moved from Peterborough to Rangers last summer on a four-year deal.

He started just one Premiership game between August and November amid a difficult start to his Ibrox career, but has since flourished, becoming a regular under Rohl.

Fernandez, who has six goals in 27 Rangers appearances, made his Nigeria debut in a victory over Iran last week then scored in his first international start, the 2-2 draw with Jordan.

"Football is about development," Rangers head coach Rohl said of Fernandez.

"It's about belief. I think it was not easy for him when I arrived. He was, I will not say far away, but he was not in a position to be a starter. And then there was a little bit of an issue with timing when he got injuries and then he stepped up.

"In general now he puts in a great performance, week by week. There's still things to improve but when you look at it, you sign a player from League One and he goes on to the national team and he scores.

"It's important for us to win something, but besides the results it's also a great way to show players what you can do at Rangers, we want to develop players.

"It's not a secret that part of our business is to create value for the club. I think when you see now how we create the value for money, then he's a little bit of a role model.

"Now it's about playing consistently at this level, not dropping back. He's calm on the ball. He is getting better and better also against the ball.

"There's a reason why I put him in, I trust him. And we should not forget he's still a right-footed player on the left side and he's doing really well in that.

"I'm happy with his development and hope it continues because it's the most important thing in football. It's never about the past, it's always about tomorrow."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Rangers manager Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media before his side's Premiership meeting with Dundee United on Saturday.

Here's what he had to say:

• Rohl believes his side have the tools to go on and win the title having overcome setbacks along the way: "It gives me a lot of belief. There's no doubt my group is strong, I'm convinced, and we have the quality to win the league."

• On the chance to go top of the Premiership for the first time in two years with a win over United: "Even if we would be tomorrow, I would still speak from we are the hunters. We want to hunt wins. We want to hunt our opponent. And with this mindset, we should go in the next seven games."

• On the three-way battle between Hearts, Rangers and Celtic for the title: "Three teams at the moment are very close to each other. For a neutral supporter, a football fan, this is maybe one of the exciting title races in Europe at the moment."

• Rohl is relishing the opportunity to play the day before Hearts and Celtic this weekend: "Ask me tomorrow if it's nice. But no, of course the last couple of weeks we have played the last Sunday game and you see all the good results. It's good that we can play first and if we do our homework tomorrow then of course it's a good feeling. Maybe after two years the first time, then I think this is also not so bad."

• A player has picked up an injury that rules him out of the next two games at least, but Rohl would not reveal his identity.

• Rohl confirmed he will take his squad away to a training camp, which is likely to include a friendly, following their final pre-split game. He says it is a "great opportunity" and brings "a lot of advantages", adding: "We look for every small thing, what could help to go in this final split."

• Transfer plans are under way for the summer window and Rangers "know what we need", but Rohl - who was asked about his reported interest in Dundee defender Luke Graham - will not "speak about names".

• Following his goalscoring full international debut for Nigeria in midweek, Rohl says Emmanuel Fernandez is an example of how Rangers can develop players and increase their value for the club.

• On winger Findlay Curtis - who is on loan at Kilmarnock - making his Scotland debut: "Fantastic. It's good to see him in the national team, he deserved this. And hopefully he can continue his way, because now he got a little bit of a taste for the national team and now he wants to be also part of the summer."

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Dundee boss Steven Pressley expects more interest in Luke Graham this summer with fellow Premiership side Rangers reportedly closing in on a deal for the centre-back.

The 22-year-old has come through the ranks at Dundee and, after spending last season on loan at Falkirk and helping them secure promotion to the top flight, has become a mainstay in Pressley's first team.

The defender's 201 clearances and 38 interceptions this term are among the highest in the division. He's also scored two goals and set up one.

Pressley admits the club rejected a sizeable offer for Graham, who has a year left in his deal, in the January window but the defender is reportedly closing in on a move to Rangers.

"We received a substantial offer for him in January and the club turned that down," Pressley told Sky Sports.

"Since then his form has been terrific, he's got better and better. He's a credit to himself and his family the way he's conducted himself through all of this speculation.

"Am I surprised by the speculation? Absolutely not. We've received no further offers. Do I expect us to receive them in the summer? Probably, based on his form. The club will only sell Luke if we receive the finance we feel he's worth.

"He's a great talent who I think can go on and play right at the very top. A player like Luke Graham probably, in his own mind, wants to play at a top club. A club in the English Premier League, that's his ambition. At Dundee we can't provide that ambition.

"The most important thing for us is the player and we should be proud around his progression and we should want a young player like him to play, eventually, at the very top."

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• Rangers have had 19 different goalscorers (excluding own goals) in the Scottish Premiership this season; since their promotion in 2016, only in 2023-24 (20) have they had more in a single campaign.

• Rangers are unbeaten in 12 league meetings with Dundee United (W8 D4) since a 1-0 defeat in August 2021.

• Dundee United have only won one of their past 22 league visits to Rangers (D4 L17), a 3-2 victory in April 2011 under Peter Houston.

• Dundee United have won two of their last three league games (D1), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W2 D4 L5).

• Rangers have won 10 of their 12 home league games under Danny Rohl (D2), more than any other Scottish Premiership side since his first such match in charge in October.

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Toronto FC will consider a permanent transfer for on-loan Rangers midfielder Jose Cifuentes after a strong run of form. (The Herald - subscription required), external

Pierce Charles is on a list of options for Rangers but a move for the Northern Ireland and Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper would only happen if Jack Butland or understudy Liam Kelly move on, with the latter out of contract in the summer. (Daily Record), external

Rangers winger Lewis Stewart, 18, is attracting major interest from Scotland and England after impressing on loan at Alloa Athletic. (Daily Record), external

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Steven Gerrard "regrets" leaving Rangers for Aston Villa but says he was unimpressed with the Ibrox club's ambition after winning the league.

The Liverpool legend guided Rangers to their first top-flight title in 10 years in 2021, an unbeaten league campaign in which they finished 25 points ahead of Celtic.

Just six months later Gerrard departed to join English Premier League side Villa, where he lasted less than a year before being sacked.

"The level was a big jump," Gerrard admitted on The Overlap, external.

"I probably didn't realise at the time when I made that decision. In hindsight I would have stayed at Rangers longer and got more experience. Now, sitting here, I regret [leaving when I did].

"The conversations with Rangers after we won [the league], the recruitment and finance chats we were having, it didn't feel like Rangers were ready to go again.

"It was a bit more like, 'Oh, let's settle this and fix that and do that.' The promises weren't as strong as what I thought they would be.

"Then the Premier League offer and opportunity comes in, it's tough. It's tough to say no to Villa, a great club. I have nothing bad to say about them."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says "maverick" Alfredo Morelos was "tough to manage" and admits the striker's unruly behaviour was part of the reason behind the signings of Jermain Defoe and Kemar Roofe.

Morelos scored 46 goals in 96 games during Gerrard's three-year spell in Glasgow but the ex-England skipper says the Colombian would often "bend the rules", particularly after scoring.

The 29-year-old joined Rangers in 2017 from HJK Helsinki and scored 84 goals over his six years in Govan. Defoe arrived from Bournemouth in 2020, three years before the end of Morelos' Ibrox stint, and Roofe moved from Anderlecht that same year.

"Morelos was tough to manage," Gerrard told The Overlap, external.

"Maverick behaviours. He was so important to Rangers because he was the goals but he was challenging, he'd bend the rules.

"After he scored a brace or a hat-trick you always knew something was in the post, whether it was him being late or something else.

"You want to try and set rules and values for your team. Sometimes you'd have to bite your tongue and turn a blind eye to one or two.

"He was so important to Rangers and I knew he was so important but I knew the time would come where I could get him to a place where he was less important. That's why I brought Jermain Defoe and Kemar Roofe in.

"When he was having these periods where he would be challenging or breaking rules, Defoe and Roofe were itching to play and they were just as good as him."

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Rangers are lining up a move for 20-year-old Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles, who worked under Ibrox manager Danny Rohl at current club Sheffield Wednesday. (Give Me Sport), external

Rangers and Celtic could face competition from Bologna for David Watson, the 21-year-old midfielder who is out of contract at Kilmarnock in the summer. (Il Resto di Carlino - in Italian), external

Linked heavily with Rangers, Scotland Under-21 defender Luke Graham insists he is giving no thought to transfer speculation and is only focused on keeping Dundee safe in the Scottish Premiership. (The Courier), external

Rangers are confident Ashton Scally will sign their offer of a three-year pro contract, despite Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea showing interest in the 15-year-old defender. (Scott Burns on X), external

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Will away form decide who wins the Scottish Premiership title?

Five points currently separate Hearts at the top of the table and Celtic in third place while Rangers are two ahead of their Glasgow rivals and three behind the leaders.

There's just seven games left to crown this season's champion and it's looking like the split is going to be decisive, but just how much will away fixtures affect where the trophy ends up?

Both Rangers and Hearts have played 15 away games so far, Celtic have played one extra.

In terms of victories, Celtic and Hearts have won eight away games while Rangers have won seven. In contrast, Hearts have won 12 of their home games, Rangers have 10 home victories and Celtic are on 11.

Hearts have scored 24 goals away from home and 29 at Tynecastle. Rangers have also scored 24 goals at away games but have 32 at Ibrox while Celtic have scored 23 goals away from home and 33 at home.

Interestingly, both Hearts and Celtic have lost five away games each while Rangers have only lost one game away from Ibrox. However they've drawn seven while Hearts and Celtic have drawn two and three respectively.

And Hearts fan Liam Corbett of This is My Story podcast suggests whichever team sorts out their away form will be the one to lift the trophy in May.

"I think it's the away form that will win the title," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Rangers haven't been great away from home and we've lost four of our last six away from home. Now we're at Livingston on Sunday then it'll be Hibs, Celtic and Motherwell away in the split.

"I think it comes down to whoever can master their away form. We're all pretty decent at home, maybe barring Celtic a little bit in terms of losses. We're unbeaten at home all season.

"Hearts have been churning out these 1-0 victories that maybe, if you're from the outside, looking in, look wobbly but they've been the most assured 1-0 victories you can get. But they only last so long.

"So whoever can master their away form will be the ones that get the best chance of bringing home the title."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Danny Rohl will be keen to get his full squad back on the training field after their international exertions to refocus on what could yet be a sensational ending to the season for the Ibrox club.

Barring injuries picked up on international duty, Rohl has more or less a full squad with which to mount a title tilt, beginning with the visit of Dundee United at the weekend.

That gives them the opportunity to strike the first blow in this latest stage of the title race, with both their rivals playing on Sunday. Rangers will be top on goal difference if they can take all three points against United and who knows what that could do psychologically as Hearts travel to Livingston the following day.

Victory is by no means guaranteed, of course, but Rangers' recent home record has been impressive - the 2-2 draw with Celtic the only time in their last nine in the league in which they have failed to win at Ibrox.

It could be a nervy occasion on Saturday but if Rohl's side can handle the pressure, they know they have put themselves in a terrific position.

Nothing will be settled this weekend, but we will get a better idea of which of the three title contenders has the mettle to get over the line by the close of play on Sunday.

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Wales winger Rabbi Matondo has joined SK Brann from Rangers on a permanent deal.

Matondo, 25, moved to Ibrox from Schalke in the summer of 2022 for an undisclosed fee and was nearing the end of his contract. He spent last season on loan at Hannover.

The last of Matondo's 70 Rangers appearances came in February, with all three of this season's games coming off the bench.

Brann finished fourth in last year's Eliteserien and will feature in the Conference League second qualifying round later this year. The Bergen side have lost both of their opening fixtures in the 2026 Eliteserien. Brann visit HamKam on Monday.

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Wales winger Rabbi Matondo is on the verge of leaving Rangers to join Norwegian side SK Brann. (Glasgow Times), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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It was attacking reinforcements in the winter window that were expected to take Rangers to the next level.

Instead, it has been the addition of a defender that has added a new dimension to the Ibrox side.

Well, simply labelling Tuur Rommens solely as a defender would be unfair, because it is his relentless work up and down the Rangers left that has impressed fans most.

Danny Rohl's decision to shift to a 4-2-2-2 formation, essentially playing a box midfield with Youssef Chermiti and Ryan Naderi as a front pairing, has freed up space in wide areas for his full-backs.

By using that space, Rommens - signed in January for a reported fee of £3m from Westerlo - is already off the mark for goals and assists in a Rangers shirt.

But what do the underlying numbers tell us about the left-back's influence?

In just 457 minutes of Scottish Premiership football, he has created 16 chances.

That already places him in the top 11 defenders in the division for chance creation. In fact, on a per-90-minute basis, he is almost top.

Albeit the sample size is small, it is a similar story for touches in the opposition box, while he also scores well among his peers for expected goals and shots on target per 90.

Defensively, Rommens ranks highly for interceptions, and Rangers have not lost a league game in which he has played, winning four and drawing two of their six matches. However, it hasn't all been perfect.

In those two draws, points have been spilled at bottom side Livingston and at home to Celtic, who exploited Rangers' left side multiple times during their two-goal second-half comeback.

But the early signs are encouraging that the Belgian can excel in Rohl's system, with a seismic spell on the horizon as Rangers attempt to reel in leaders Hearts.