Copyright GIVEMESPORT
Danny Rohl's decision to start Nasser Djiga in Rangers' clash with Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final was the wrong one, according to the Four Lads Had a Dream podcast. The Gers, reduced to ten men after the 38th minute, look likely to crash out of the cup to their Old Firm rivals, courtesy of goals from Johnny Kenny (25'), Callum McGregor (93') and Callum Osmand (109'). James Tavernier took the game to extra time from the penalty spot (81'). There were hopes that Rohl's men could build on their wins over Kilmarnock (3-1) and Hibernian (1-0) and they did well to take the tie to extra time at Hampden Park. But Djiga came in for criticism, having been handed a start in such a high-profile game with inconsistent game time before the semi-final. Celtic 3-1 Rangers: "Lost" Djiga Called Out The Burkinabe defender was benched for a 2-2 draw with Dundee United and the Kilmarnock win and has instead been rotated, starting all of his side's six Europa League fixtures. The reluctance to use Djiga as a regular starter in the Scottish Premiership should have been taken into consideration for the Old Firm Derby. At 22, he was tasked with keeping the likes of Kenny and Sebastian Tounekti quiet, but he failed, way too lackadaisical in defence, wasteful in possession and too rash in diving into challenges. Four Lads Had A Dream gave a grim verdict of his afternoon while watching Rangers fall to a likely defeat in normal time. They wrote on X: "On Rangers on performance it’s been poor Hesitance and panic all over the park, Djiga genuinely looks lost & that calm of midweek none existent. 3 has turned into a 5 at back & we can’t get out, not sticking up front, hasn’t worked. So many off it Need subs for an outball now." Djiga joined the Gers from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer on a season-long loan and he's another of several questionable recruitment decisions made by Kevin Thelwell. Youssef Chermiti has similarly failed to live up to expectations, and there will continue to be debate over the club's transfer business. Rohl, who still had the passionate fanbase singing his name during extra time, will know just how much work there is to do at Ibrox and he'll be learning a thing or two about his squad after performances such as the one on Sunday afternoon. Thelo Aasgard's red card in the first half certainly didn't help the German, but the likes of Djiga and Chermitti are surely playing for their futures in his starting XI.
