Danny Rohl makes title admission, reveals Rangers plan for Celtic fans and shares Andreas Skov Olsen verdict

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl admits the presence of over 7000 Celtic fans can have an influence on the Scottish Cup quarter-final clash on Sunday - but insists his team knows exactly how to keep them quiet.

Celtic are set to have their largest away following in eight years at Ibrox after an agreement was reached between the clubs and the Scottish FA, with the away team’s supporters set to be housed in the Broomloan Stand for the first time since March 2018.

Just over 2000 away fans were present during last weekend’s 2-2 draw in the Scottish Premiership as Rangers surrendered a two-goal half-time lead, but Rohl has urged the team to relish the occasion and silence the large contingent of Celtic fans by booking their place in the final four of the Scottish Cup.

Celtic will be backed by over 7000 fans against Rangers on Sunday. | PA

“Of course it will have an impact,” said Rohl. “But we play the same 50 minutes as we did last week, then the 7,000 [Celtic] fans will be quiet. This is the part of the game, we can influence with our performance on the pitch. The atmosphere was incredible for 50 minutes last week, it goes to 2-1 and you feel it [the nerves] in the stadium. Football is not always about tactics, it also about emotion. The emotion in the second-half was really high. But I take this, I take the experience and we talked about this and now we move forward.

“We talked about things that were good, and what we need to improve. The last training session has good intensity and a good mindset. Very focused. Today we worked on some details again. You go with the belief and the trust. I don't know when Rangers last dominated Celtic like this in the first 50 minutes. This is the focus where we are, and what we want to do over 90 minutes, or 120 minutes if necessary.”

Just one point separates the two teams in the league after Celtic won their game in hand against Aberdeen 2-1 earlier in the week, but the 36-year-old boss has dismissed the notion that the winner of this weekend’s Scottish Cup clash will get a psychological advantage heading into the final nine league games of the campaign.

"The winner goes into the semi-final and goes closer to a final,” said the Rangers manager. “This is the most important thing. It is a difficult competition. I understand the question that if you win, will it influence this [the league]. But this game influences just whether you go to a semi-final. Then after this game it is full focus on the league.”

The German head coach also revealed his plans for winger Andreas Skov Olsen in the coming weeks. The Denmark international joined the club during the January transfer window on a loan-to-buy deal. Rangers are reported to hold an option to purchase the player for £8million at the end of the season. After a lacklustre start to his Ibrox career, the 26-year-old has added two assists in his last three appearances and is beginning to show signs of life after his much-anticipated switch from Wolfsburg.

“I think he's very tactically intelligent,” admitted Rohl. “We know that in moments, which parts he can help us.. But he will also agree - and we had this conversation - that there is still more [to come]. This is what we are trying to bring out of him. The good thing is we have this option [to buy him] after the season and I don't need to think about it now.”

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