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Rangers boss Danny Rohl says his players don’t need to use Martin O’Neill’s radio jibes as motivation - because they’re already fired up to beat Celtic. The veteran Hoops stand-in gaffer has been scathing in his criticism of Rangers this season as a TalkSPORT pundit. O’Neill dismissed their chances of challenging for the title this season and said the current Ibrox side would get hammered off the team he faced during his first stint as Celtic manager 25 years ago. But Rohl insists he won’t be pinning the Irishman’s words up on the Hampden dressing room before Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final. He’s adamant that his squad have enough determination to win the derby, without using O’Neill’s comments to get them up for it. Before the 73-year-old replaced Brendan Rodger s as interim boss, he said: “Rangers are no threat whatsoever. They are so far adrift, it’s untrue.” And earlier this season, after Gers’ 1-1 draw away at St Mirren, O’Neill slated them by saying: “The Rangers side I was up against then would beat this Rangers side 12-0." But when asked about O’Neill’s criticism ahead of the last four clash at Hampden, Rohl said: “For me, it’s always important to focus on myself. “I’m not a coach who looks too much into other teams because we have a lot of work to do. We have to do a lot of things right here. So my focus is on my team. “What other coaches have said is not so important for me. I don’t think it’s necessary to have such words for motivation. “My players are really motivated for a game like this. Everybody wants to play in this game because they want to be part of it - and part of a successful team.” At just 36, Rohl will come up against an iconic boss in O’Neill who is 37 years his senior. The German admits he lacks his opposite number’s experience. But he says both bosses will be equal come kick-off time on Sunday. Rohl said: “I feel a big respect for such a coaching career (O’Neill’s). “It’s always great when a manager works so long in the business and you’re successful. “I’m just at the beginning of my career and I’ve had a lot of work to do to come to this point. “But the good thing on Sunday is that we start at 0-0. We’re different generations but let’s see what we can bring with our teams in this game.” Rohl can’t wait to sample his first Old Firm derby less than three weeks into the job at Ibrox. He knows what’s at stake in the semi-final and feels that a victory for Rangers could ignite their season. Rohl said: “It’s very exciting. I have some experience but I expect a big one on Sunday. “This is why we love this game, to be part of such a game. “It's all or nothing. You win, you come to the final, you lose and you're out. “Everything is on for a great game. “A win would be a big result. And it would be a great week for us with three wins in a row. “Of course, it would be fantastic. I can feel it, the energy and the spirit is back. The belief is there. “Three wins in a row would give us a massive boost. “This is what I saw and knew when I arrived - the busy schedule and a lot of big games during my first three weeks. “Now we have two wins and on Sunday we have the chance to take the next step forward. “Of course, to go to the final would make us very happy.” Rohl confirmed that Rangers are still in the process of hiring an assistant coach with previous experience at the club - but it won't be rubber-stamped until after the next international break. He said: "We have some more meetings and I think the schedule will be late in the international break when we have sorted this part. "It's important that we speak to Kevin (Thelwell) and look at the candidates. "It has to be a good fit, it's important for the players - which direction we need and what kind of profile we need to make the next steps."
