- Nico Raskin defends Rangers mentality, insisting belief remains despite Motherwell defeat and mounting title pressure.
- Belgian midfielder labels Hearts clash “do-or-die” with Rangers trailing in tight Premiership title race.
- Criticism grows as Charlie Miller questions midfield, while James Tavernier farewell adds emotional motivation.
Nico Raskin has hit back at criticism of Rangers’ mentality, insisting belief inside the dressing room remains strong despite a damaging week in the title race.
Rangers travel to Tynecastle on Monday knowing anything less than victory against Hearts could effectively end their hopes of lifting the Premiership title.
Heading into the fixture, Rangers sit four points behind Hearts and three adrift of Celtic with just four matches remaining.
The swing in momentum has been stark.
A late defeat to Motherwell at Ibrox last Sunday saw Rangers relinquish control of the title race.
Then just hours later Hearts boosted their own position with a 2-1 win over nine-man Hibernian at Easter Road.
Nico Raskin: “Do-or-die” reality cannot be avoided
The Belgian midfielder was unequivocal when addressing the stakes.
“We have to win over there if we want our chance to keep increasing,” he admitted.
“It’s a do-or-die game.”
There is no attempt to downplay the scenario.
Rangers’ margin for error is gone, now they must win against Derek McInnes’s side, or watch the title slip away.
Responding to mentality criticism
In the aftermath of the Motherwell defeat, questions have again been raised about Rangers’ mentality in decisive moments.
Raskin, however, firmly rejected that narrative.
“You can’t talk about mentality when a team comes back from 13 points behind,” he blasted.
Rangers’ resurgence this season has been built on resilience, even if recent results have reopened familiar doubts.
But the issues around dropping the ball just as achievement comes up on the horizon continues to irk the Ibrox support.
Still, the frustration within the squad is undeniable.
“That’s even more frustrating, we worked so hard to come back to that position.”
External noise grows as pressure builds
The scrutiny has not been limited to supporters and media.
Former Rangers midfielder Charlie Miller has called on manager Danny Rohl to rethink his midfield setup, directly questioning the balance of the side.
“You cannot play two players in midfield that cannot tackle or track back,” he said on the duo of Raskin and Tochi Chukwuani, who started against the Steelmen.
“If he goes and plays like that at Tynecastle, Hearts will run through us.”
It is a criticism that implicitly places Raskin under the spotlight, particularly ahead of what is expected to be a physical, high-intensity contest in Edinburgh against an aggressive midfield featuring Cammy Devlin.
Graeme Souness presence and James Tavernier motivation
Amid the pressure, Rangers have turned to experience.
Club legend Graeme Souness was present at training this week, offering guidance as the squad prepares for the defining stretch of the campaign.
There is also an emotional driver within the group, with captain James Tavernier approaching the end of his Rangers career.
Raskin admitted lifting the title for Tavernier is a powerful motivation.
“He might be the one who deserves it the most,” he said.
“It would be amazing for him.”
Despite the mounting pressure, Raskin insists the squad’s mindset remains aligned.
“If we don’t believe in ourselves then no one else can, we know we can do it,” he said defiantly.
“Everyone has a part to play, showing intensity in training, showing everyone wants to win.
“Football changes so quickly and you need to stay calm and not get carried away.”
Read Rangers analysis
This is the moment that defines seasons, and narratives around mentality and the ability of both squad and manager moving forward.
Rangers have already proven they can recover ground, but the Motherwell defeat has shifted them from hunters to hopefuls.
The psychological challenge now is arguably greater than the mathematical one.
Tynecastle will demand intensity, structure, and control.
These are precisely the areas critics argue have been inconsistent in this Gers side.
Raskin’s defence of the squad’s mentality is not without merit.
A team does not erase a 13-point deficit without resilience.
But in elite football, perception is dictated by outcomes.
Four games remain. Four “cup finals.”
And as Raskin himself admits, it is now do-or-die.
And in that environment, belief alone is no longer enough, it must translate into results immediately, starting on Monday.
