Former Celtic defender Jack McNamara pinpointed Rangers tactical adaptability as the decisive factor behind their Old Firm comeback victory, insisting the match was effectively won by head coach Danny Röhl at half-time.
Speaking on Sky Sports following Rangers 3–1 win over Celtic at Parkhead, McNamara dismissed the idea that the contest hinged purely on fine margins, arguing instead that Rangers’ in-game adjustments exposed a Celtic side unwilling, or unable, to respond under manager Wilfried Nancy.
“What he’s saying there is small margins,” McNamara said.
“Yes, they had chances there and as he said at half-time it could easily have been 4-0 for Celtic, but it wasn’t.
“But it’s the other end - it’s adjusting to changes that the opposition make.
“For me, Danny Röhl won the game at half-time for Rangers by the decisions he made.”
McNamara explained that Röhl’s key intervention was forcing Celtic’s wing-backs higher up the pitch, stretching their defensive structure and creating mismatches Rangers repeatedly exploited after the break.
“He said, ‘I’m going to push the Celtic wing-backs away from me, I’ll push them up there,’” McNamara continued.
“And Celtic never changed anything - even when it went back to 2–1 or 3–1, they didn’t change their shape.”
The former defender highlighted how Celtic’s insistence on maintaining a back three ultimately worked against them while chasing the game.
“So they’ve got three centre-halves and their two wing-backs are coming back, and it effectively becomes a five against three when you’re chasing the game,” he said.
McNamara also singled out Yang Hyun-jun’s altered role as symbolic of Celtic’s broader issues, noting that the winger - dangerous in the first half where he opened the scoring, was dragged into defensive areas unsuited to his strengths.
“In the first half, Yang was Celtic’s best player in that final third,” he said.
“But then you’re seeing him losing part of the goal at the back post area.
“He’s not a defensive player - you want to see him in that [forward] area.”
For McNamara, the solution was obvious: change the system to match Rangers.
“So go and change the shape, go to four and match up with Rangers again,” he said.
“And that’s the difference sometimes between winning and losing the game.”
Asked whether that adaptability is the hardest part of management, McNamara was unequivocal.
“Yeah,” he replied.
“We’ve all got beliefs and formations and everything else, and you want to stick to it.
“But it’s not about our beliefs - it’s about winning.”
While acknowledging the pressures facing Celtic’s new manager, McNamara contrasted that with Rangers’ clarity under Röhl.
“Coming in here, he’s come in on the back of [Russell] Martin, and won seven out of eight,” he said.
“The performances weren’t always great, but the results were.
“And coming in there, it’s about continuing that and finding a way to win.”
“That’s the difference now,” McNamara concluded.
“And that’s how Rangers have won the game today.”