Better than Aasgaard: Rangers star is becoming Rohl’s most important player

Glasgow Rangers inched closer to being serious contenders in the Scottish Premiership title race with a 2-1 win over St Mirren at Ibrox on Tuesday night.

The Light Blues secured a fairly comfortable victory in front of their own supporters thanks to goals from Thelo Aasgaard and Emmanuel Fernandez either side of the break.

A late goal from Mikael Mandron chucked a spanner into the works, but the home side were able to see out the remainder of the game to claim all three points.

Thelo Aasgaard's Rangers rise

Football is a brutal sport and things can change incredibly quickly. Aasgaard appeared to be a flop just a few weeks ago, with one goal and one assist in his first 20 appearances for the club in all competitions, per Sofascore.

However, the Norway international has recorded a goal contribution in each of his last three appearances for the Gers in the Premiership, with an assist against Hearts and goals against Motherwell and St Mirren.

Per Sofascore, Aasgaard won six of his ten duels, completed 100% (1/1) of his attempted dribbles, and scored a goal from one of his two efforts on goal, heading in from Jayden Meghoma’s cross in the first half.

He brought physicality, technical quality, and a goal threat to the team as the number ten for the Light Blues, which was not the case in the first few months of his career at Ibrox and is why he now looks like an important player for the side.

Whilst Aasgaard has emerged as a key performer with his key contributions in the final third in recent weeks, there is a player at the other end of the pitch who is becoming Danny Rohl’s most important player.

Danny Rohl's most important player at Rangers

Given the run of five wins in 17 matches under Russell Martin to start the season, consistent performers have been few and far between for the club this term.

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However, Emmanuel Fernandez, who started one league game under the Scottish boss, is quickly becoming Rohl’s most important and consistent performer at the back.

The English-born central defender has started eight of the German’s nine Premiership games in charge, partnering John Souttar, Dujon Sterling, and Nasser Djiga at various points, remaining the one constant in the backline.

His threat from set-pieces has, naturally, caught the eye because of a return of three goals in nine league starts, which means that he has as many goals as Bojan Miovski and more goals than Youssef Chermiti.

It is his defensive work, though, that has made him the most important player in the team for Rohl, because he has been the lynchpin at the back for the Gers, who have the joint-best defensive record in the division.

Per Sofascore, Fernandez won six of his seven aerial duels and made a staggering game-high 15 clearances at the back for Rangers to preserve the three points. The penalty that was given against him was a questionable call and one that ultimately meant little, due to Jack Butland’s save.

He more than made up for giving away the penalty, as soft as it was, with his colossal defensive display that cemented his place as the most reliable defender in the squad so far this season.

As you can see in the table above, Fernandez has been a standout for Rangers with the most interceptions and clearances per 90 in the squad, whilst he also ranks second among centre-backs for tackles per 90 (1.3).

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The former Peterborough defender, who ranks first in the squad with an average Sofascore rating of 7.53, may not be the perfect or most polished centre-back, as he can look awkward at times, but he has been effective.

Rangers have won five, drawn two, and lost one of his eight league starts under Rohl. The Light Blues picked up four wins, six draws, and one loss in their other 11 league outings this season.

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Dan Emery

This illustrates the impact that both Fernandez and Rohl have had for the Scottish giants, as they have now emerged as genuine title contenders, and the centre-back is arguably their most important performer with his defensive and offensive qualities at the back.