Rangers Must Win Silverware This Season, Says Danny Rohl Ahead Of Celtic Clash

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Rangers manager Danny Rohl states that silverware is non-negotiable this season as the squad get ready to face Celtic at Ibrox in Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final, with the Old Firm showdown carrying major weight for both clubs’ seasons and offering Rangers a direct route towards ending the campaign with at least one major domestic trophy.

Rangers reached the last eight with little resistance, hitting five without reply against Annan Athletic before recording an 8-0 victory over Queen's Park, results that underline the team’s strength in this competition and leave the Scottish Cup, alongside the Scottish Premiership title race, as the two remaining chances to finish the season with a trophy.

The league picture adds extra pressure, with Rangers sitting third in the Scottish Premiership, six points behind leaders Hearts and trailing Celtic, who are second, after a 2-2 draw between the Glasgow rivals last weekend, while Rangers have drawn three of their last four league fixtures, winning the other, and need a spark to revive their title push.

Rohl believes that the Scottish Cup tie can provide that push in both competitions, pointing to dropped points that followed strong displays and urging a reaction from the squad on home turf, especially after recent league draws that Rohl felt did not reflect the performances against Livingston and Celtic.

As Rangers manager you have to, the German said when asked if he feels he has to win a trophy this term. As a club you have to. With these ambitions, we have to. This is part of the job. I think we noticed the last two results, two draws [against Livingston and Celtic], was for me unnecessary when I compared the results with the performance. And we have a great opportunity on Sunday to make a good step towards the first trophy.

Celtic arrive in the Scottish Cup quarter-final through a far tighter route, edging Dundee FC 2-1 after extra time, with Junior Adamu forcing extra time by scoring with the final kick of normal time for Martin O'Neill's side, before Sebastian Tounekti struck the decisive goal two minutes into extra time to complete the turnaround.

James Forrest, one of Celtic’s most experienced wingers, looks forward to another visit to Ibrox and expects a fierce atmosphere, with Celtic aiming to silence the home support and book a place at Hampden, while the squad target a deep Scottish Cup run to complement the ongoing Premiership challenge.

Obviously,it's two games against Rangers at Ibrox and these are the games that all the boys and the fans want, said Forrest. It'sa chance to get to Hampden and to the semi-final, and thats the focus. Everyone in the changing room will be giving their all on Sunday. It'llbe great for the cup tie and it'll be great for us as well. Our fans last Sunday were really good even with the small allocation.

Recent form in league and cup highlights how both Rangers and Celtic approach this Scottish Cup quarter-final under pressure but with momentum in different ways, with Rangers dominating earlier rounds yet dropping league points and Celtic grinding out progress in the cup while staying ahead of Rangers in the Premiership standings.

The tie also carries the usual intensity of an Old Firm derby, but it is layered with extra significance this season, as Rohl’s clear demands for a trophy and Forrest’s focus on reaching Hampden show that both camps see this Scottish Cup quarter-final as central to their ambitions and as a key moment that could shape the rest of their domestic campaigns.