SNS GroupRangers head coach Danny Rohl revealed he apologised to travelling fans after seeing his side lose 3-0 to Brann in the Europa League – but said he is working to turn the team’s performances around.
Rohl was taking charge of his first match since being appointed as Russell Martin’s successor on Monday but he couldn’t effect immediate change after what has been a disastrous start to the season for the Ibrox side.
Emil Kornvig, Jacob Sorensen and Noah Holm all found the net in what was a comprehensive win for a Brann side ranked as the weakest in the competition, and that left Rangers at the bottom of the League Phase table after three games.
At the final whistle, Rohl went over to the away fans, who had made the long journey to Bergen to support their side, and he said it was important to show he understood their feelings.
“At first I apologised for this defeat and this performance,” Rohl said. “They travelled a lot for the team, they are always there.
“This club has a lot of passionate fans and they deserve this. It was very important for me to show that I understand them, but I said as well to them, I am working very hard to improve this group of players, to step up and get results.”
Rohl was frustrated with the goals conceded and said that he had learned a lot about not only the individual players but the group as a whole. He believes there is potential there but that there is work ahead to get consistent positive performances.
“I see a lot of potential, what we have to improve,” he said. “I think this is very important to understand, and this is what I told my players as well.
“I want to see that every individual player tried everything to make this step forward, and this is my job. I took this job over to develop them and improve them, and we have to do it as individuals but also as a group, and there are a lot of things we can do.”
Defeat leaves Rangers with a huge uphill battle if they are to progress from the League Phase but the head coach said he wasn’t looking much further ahead than the next game against Kilmarnock as he looks to make improvements.
“I think it’s hard work what we have to do, when I look to the next opponent we will have again a big team, but it’s about the turnaround, and for me the next game is the important one, and this is now on Sunday,” he said.
“As I said at the beginning, for me at the moment to have a long-term view makes no sense.
“We have games every three days and that means we have to win, and for this I will help my players, my group, my coaches, and then we go forward.”
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