Rangers Optimistic After Europa League Defeat Says Danny Rohl Amid Setback

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Rangers exited the Europa League after a 3-1 defeat to Porto, yet Danny Rohl still pointed to progress. Rangers led early at Estadio Do Dragao through Djeidi Gassama, but three quick goals turned the tie. Porto’s victory moved the Portuguese side into the competition’s top eight at Rangers’ expense.

The loss ended Rangers’ eight-match winning streak in all competitions, but Rohl argued that performances are trending upward. Rangers collected just four points in the Europa League league phase and finished 32nd, finally earning a first group win against Ludogorets on their penultimate European matchday of the campaign.

Domestically, Rangers approach Sunday’s trip to Hibernian in a stronger mood than their European record suggests. Rohl’s side sit second in the Scottish Premiership, four points behind leaders Hearts. Rangers have won six successive league fixtures, giving the squad confidence as attention returns to the title race at Easter Road.

Rangers’ issue in Porto was the collapse after Gassama’s sixth-minute header, created by 19-year-old Findlay Curtis. Rodrigo Mora, Francisco Moura and an Emmanuel Fernandez own goal struck within 14 punishing minutes. The burst left Rangers trailing 3-1 before half-time and allowed Porto to manage the contest through the remaining minutes.

The reverse continued a difficult pattern away from home in European football for Rangers. Rohl’s team have now lost six straight away matches in Europe, including qualifiers, which is Rangers’ longest such sequence on the continent. Rohl, though, stressed that this run comes during a wider rebuilding process under the current coaching staff.

Rangers’ defending in the first half again proved costly in Europe. It was only the second time Rangers had conceded three goals before the break in a Europa League match, after the defeat to Lyon in October 2024. Across this European campaign, including qualifiers, Rangers allowed 26 goals in total.

Among Scottish clubs, only Celtic in the 2021-22 season have conceded more goals in a single European campaign, with 27. Rohl accepted that Rangers must sharpen defensive concentration but emphasised attacking precision as another key area. The head coach highlighted small margins in decisive moments, especially around the final pass in advanced areas.

Rohl felt the early passages in Portugal again showed how this Rangers side wants to play. "We started well, we were on the front foot in the first 15 minutes and we played well, very brave," Rohl told TNT Sports. "The two goals after 1-1 were too easy, this moment was the killer. They controlled the game more in the first half and we missed some moments in their half. We have to be brave there. Second half, we tried. We played with courage, some good football, but all in all it's a defeat."

The German coach linked the display against Porto to his earliest matches in charge. "For me, it's about a process. I compare this to my first game in BergenI see a big difference. You need that extra quality, that extra final pass and that we need to work on. But what I have seenin the last four games a big step forward."

One positive for Rohl in Porto was the contribution of academy talent Curtis, who assisted Gassama’s goal. "In the last two weeks, there's a reason why Findlay [Curtis] got more minuteshe's deserved it," Rohl added. "We had a good talk with him two weeks ago, and since then there's been big progress in his development. It is great to see this, how brave he is. It's important that at his age he gets a lot of minutes. I see Manny [Fernandez] with a good performance, John [Souttar] and Nasser [Djiga] the same. We have a lot of good options in defence."

Rangers now leave European competition with clear areas to improve yet also evidence of growth under Rohl. Recent league form, the emergence of Curtis and increased competition in defence provide optimism. With the Europa League campaign over, focus turns fully to closing the gap on Hearts in the Premiership.