A Test of Resolve for Rangers
The recent challenges faced by Rangers have often been attributed to a lack of winning mentality, a criticism that has repeatedly been directed at the club’s players during one of the most difficult periods in its history. While Nicolas Raskin and his teammates cannot be solely blamed for the club’s struggles, including only three major trophies in the last 14 seasons, they are aware that changing the narrative on the pitch is essential.
Last Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at home to Motherwell was another example of Rangers failing to capitalize on a promising position in the title race. This loss reignited questions about the team’s character when it comes to crucial moments. Raskin acknowledged that until the team wins a significant trophy, such doubts will persist. However, he also pointed out that the team has shown resilience by coming back from 13 points behind to compete for the title this season.
“Until we win a big thing, I think that’s going to always be there,” Raskin said. “But I don’t think we can talk about mentality when a team comes back from 13 points behind to a position where you can still win the title, which we have done this season. So it’s a bit, I won’t say unfair, but until we win a big thing it’s always going to be a question mark. But we just keep focusing on ourselves and what we need to do to go and win it.”
With a four-point gap to Hearts, the upcoming match against the league leaders at Tynecastle on Monday is a critical moment for Rangers. Raskin emphasized the importance of this game, stating that it is a do-or-die situation.
“We know it’s a do-or-die game,” he added. “Either we win it and we are in it for the title, or we lose and it’s going to be very tough. It’s very clear for everyone. We cannot hide or say anything else. It’s the case. We need to win or it’s going to be very tough for us. We all know what it’s going to take. We all know where we are and that we need to win.”
The Quest for Silverware
Since joining the club, Raskin has become a key player for Rangers, despite missing the 2023-24 League Cup victory over Aberdeen due to injury. He now sees himself as one of the club’s most influential players and a valuable asset in terms of potential sell-on value. However, Raskin remains focused on achieving success in Scottish football.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” he said. “Winning trophies is something that I’ve been dreaming of since I came to the club. So there’s no point saying otherwise. I was so disappointed after the last game against Motherwell, because I knew it was a big chance for us. It wasn’t nice, especially after we had worked so hard to come back to that position where we were just one point behind. That’s the thing that is even more frustrating for us.”
“But you don’t have much time to be disappointed in football. It’s just about going out and winning the next game, then see what happens. I still think there are going to be lots of points dropped by the teams around us. If we don’t believe in ourselves, then no one else is going to believe in us. So first of all we need to believe we can do it. We know we can do it. We’ve shown it during the season. Now we have to put the last effort into the final four games and give some extra to go and get the win.”
Leadership and Legacy
Raskin is seen by many fans as a potential successor to James Tavernier as club captain. Known for his vocal presence in the dressing room and on the pitch, Raskin believes in the collective responsibility of the team to ensure proper preparation and motivation for their remaining matches.
“I feel everyone has a part to play,” he said. “Everyone, even the ones that are a little bit quieter, they’ve got a part to play by showing the intensity in training, showing that everyone wants to win. I think that’s what the team is doing. We had a setback, but we came back here focused on the next game and put everything in training to make sure we are ready and sharp for the next game.”
Raskin also expressed admiration for Tavernier, who is set to leave after 11 seasons at Ibrox. He believes that Tavernier deserves the league title for his contributions to the club.
“I think Tavernier has been the best captain I could have had coming into the club. He’s been top with everyone, every time. So we’ve been discussing with the boys here that’s something we want to achieve, giving this to Tavernier. I think he might be the one that deserves it the most, that league title, for everything he has done for the club. So, it would be amazing for him to finish with the league title and hopefully a testimonial after. But it’s up to us to go and win the four games with him.”
Preparing for the Challenge
As the team prepares for the highly anticipated clash against Hearts, Raskin is eager for what he expects to be a fiercely contested and physical match. He acknowledges the strength of Hearts, who have consistently found ways to win games this season.
“Hearts have had a really good season, they always find a way to win games which is what matters, especially right now,” he said. “So we know what we need to do. There is going to be fire for the first 10 or 15 minutes. It’s a game of second ball, 50-50s, fight and who’s going to be the more efficient in the box. So we are getting ready for that. We are going there to win.”
