Nicolas Raskin underlined both his growing influence and Rangers collective mentality after another composed night at Ibrox, as his goal helped secure a 2–0 win over managerless Aberdeen and ensured Danny Röhl’s side backed up their Old Firm triumph in the best possible way.
Speaking after the match with Rangers TV, the Belgian international midfielder made it clear the challenge was never about ability, but about mindset following such an emotionally charged victory just days earlier.
“Yeah, I think we’re all feeling great,” Raskin said.
“We all wanted to put a lot of effort in the game because it’s never easy after a big victory to bring the same energy, same focus.”
Raskin felt Rangers delivered on that demand, even if there is still room to improve.
“I think we played some good football at times,” he added.
“We still have some moments we can improve, but overall, it was a good performance from the team.”
That ability to reset quickly has become a defining trait of this Rangers side under Röhl, and Raskin credited the manager’s insistence on standards as the driving force behind it.
“The manager insists a lot on doing the things right – the basics right,” he explained.
“So that’s the focus in the team. We know if we come out and do the basics right, then the quality will come out and then we can score goals and win games.”
Consistency, he stressed, is now the non-negotiable.
“We just have to be every game with the same intensity, same details, and then let’s get some wins.”
Raskin’s goal – another near-post header from a corner – was no accident.
He revealed the work done on the training ground since the arrival of set-piece coach Scott Fry is already paying off.
“When Scott arrived, he made us aware of loads of things we could improve and try to give the best out of every set piece,” Raskin said.
“So it’s great for us to have Scott with us.”
The move itself was improvised but rehearsed.
“The little story for that goal is that Tav just recognised the corner before that,” he explained.
“They were taking the first man’s zone out and he just went like, ‘OK, Baz [Connor Barron], put it to his post, Nico, attack that first post,’ and it’s on.”
From there, it was execution.
“It’s a great delivery and I just have to put my head correctly to score.”
Beyond the goal, Raskin also highlighted how the midfield unit is beginning to click, with competition and understanding growing game by game and a great understanding between himself, Barron and Mohamed Diomande.
“I think we have started to create a really good partnership in the midfield,” he said.
“We understand each other.
“We’ve got quite a free role for everyone to be in position to go and try to play.”
Crucially, the work without the ball matches the freedom in possession.
“And then we know what to do when we don’t have the ball,” Raskin added.
“If we do the basics right, get the intensity, we’re not scared of anyone.”
Attention now quickly turns to Pittodrie, where Rangers face Aberdeen again on Sunday. For Raskin, the approach will not change.
“Now it’s about recovering,” he said.
“We watch the video, see what we can improve, see what we’ve done good, see where we can even go and be better.”
And with momentum building, the message is simple.
“Then we go up there and try to win that game.”
For Rangers, that relentless focus may be proving just as important as the goals themselves.