Rangers and head coach Danny Rohl are back at Ibrox for Sunday's fixture
Published February 27, 2026 • Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cgrz4x2lj92o
By Martin Dowden BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Head coach Danny Rohl has urged Rangers to approach Sunday's "crucial" Scottish Premiership meeting against Celtic "with a hot heart and a smart mind".
Both sides are competing with leaders Hearts for the title, with Derek McInnes' side four points clear.
Hearts host Aberdeen the day before the season's third league meeting of Rangers and Celtic and fourth overall. Celtic will visit Ibrox again the following Sunday in the Scottish Cup.
Two points separate Rangers in second and Celtic, but Celtic have a game in hand against Aberdeen on Wednesday.
"I see my team is ready to take points and then we will see on Sunday," said Rohl, who oversaw a 3-1 January win at Celtic Park.
Sportsound: Rangers v Celtic
Sunday, 1 March
Listen on Sounds
Listen on BBC Sounds, 92-95FM & online, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app, highlights on BBC Scotland from 19:15
"It makes no sense to speak too much about the other side. They are behind us. We have to focus on ourselves. We want to win this game.
"Hopefully, both teams try everything and I am confident that we have a big chance to win this game.
"We are ready. Do it with a hot heart and a smart mind.
"If we do this then we have a big chance, we have a clear idea of what we want to do.
"We have also some different solutions, how we can hurt them. But let's see."
'No team will be out of race after this game'
While seven league defeats have curtailed Celtic's defence of the title, 11 draws have left Rangers frustrated in their pursuit of Hearts.
The most recent was a 2-2 draw from two down at Livingston last week while Celtic lost at home to Hibernian. The weekend before, Rangers recovered from 1-0 and 2-1 down to defeat Hearts 4-2 at Ibrox.
"My team showed character, big personality in the last couple of weeks," Rohl added.
"Also to come back away in Celtic, in the stadium there after 1-0 down, showed that even if the game goes in one direction, what we don't want, we always have a chance to come back.
"Yeah, we dropped two points [at Livingston]. We missed two points. But let's turn it in a positive way. At the end, we won one point after 2-0 down.
"When you are a manager and you have the chance to play at home this kind of game, then you are also on fire. We are on fire. It was a good training week so far.
"I feel the confidence, I feel the belief. It's not just about the shape and the tactic, but it's also about how we go in duels, how we win the balls, how we play forward."
The German said: "It's a crucial game, but no team will be out after this game because there are still 27 points you can take. It's two matchdays and you are in the title race again.
"It's a crucial one because when you come closer and closer to the end of the season and there is more and more in, then you know every game is important."