Rangers return to Scottish Premiership action at Ibrox this afternoon as Falkirk visit Ibrox, and head coach Danny Röhl says his message to the squad has been clear: carry the belief built over the club’s four-game winning run back into league business.
Speaking ahead of the match, Röhl said the recent run of victories must serve as the platform for another strong performance.
“After four wins in a row, we should go into this game with confidence,” he said.
“It feels a little while ago, but the last four games we won – and it’s crucial we take that belief with us.
“It’s another chance for players to get minutes, we rotate, we have to rotate.”
The manager confirmed a number of changes to his squad, with illness and personal circumstances affecting availability.
“Youssef [Chermiti] is ill, and [Djeidi] Gassama was away yesterday with the birth of his wife’s new baby.
“These are small things we need to manage, but I see a team that’s ready to go,” he added.
Röhl was quick to acknowledge today’s visitors, adding: “They’re on a bit of a run as well.
“It won’t be an easy one, but we should approach it with confidence.”
One of today’s notable changes is Nedim Bajrami coming in for his first Premiership start of the campaign.
Röhl said the winger fully deserves the opportunity.
“He earned it,” he said.
“He was waiting for his chance and delivered in the last home game.
“He gives us impact, and when he’s on the pitch I get a bit of calmness on the ball.”
Röhl also highlighted Bajrami’s positional discipline – something he feels Rangers lacked late on against Braga.
“In the last 20 minutes against Braga we lost our structure.
“We were too tight, didn’t open up the game.
“Nedim is the type of player who can give us that calmness and positioning. He’s a weapon for us, and hopefully he has a good game.”
There was further good news with the inclusion of Dujon Sterling in the matchday squad for the first time since his long-term injury layoff.
“I’m happy for him,” Röhl said.
“We had a long conversation and he’s hungry, he wants to do more, but now it’s about finding the right balance – the right moment to put him on.”
While no guarantees were made regarding minutes today, Röhl confirmed Sterling is close to a return.
“It could be this matchday, it could be the next.
“After such a long injury you need days and minutes to build back into it.
“But I’m very happy he is close and back in the squad.”
Turning to the opposition, Röhl praised Falkirk’s approach and warned that Rangers must be switched on in every phase.
“They’re a team who want to play football,” he said.
“They mix short and long passes well, they’re calm on the ball – I would say a possession team and they’re aggressive and brave.”
Röhl pointed to Falkirk’s willingness to take the game to bigger sides as a sign of their intent.
He said: “When you watch them away to bigger teams, they were brave, they weren’t afraid to press.
“But I want to see our team bring the confidence from four wins in a row into this game.”