Rohl

While seven league defeats have curtailed Celtic’s defence of the title, 11 draws have left Rangers frustrated in their pursuit of Hearts.

The most recent was a 2-2 draw from two down at Livingston last week while Celtic lost at home to Hibernian. The weekend before, Rangers recovered from 1-0 and 2-1 down to defeat Hearts 4-2 at Ibrox.

“My team showed character, big personality in the last couple of weeks,” Rohl added.

“Also to come back away in Celtic, in the stadium there after 1-0 down, showed that even if the game goes in one direction, what we don’t want, we always have a chance to come back.

“Yeah, we dropped two points [at Livingston]. We missed two points. But let’s turn it in a positive way. At the end, we won one point after 2-0 down.

“When you are a manager and you have the chance to play at home this kind of game, then you are also on fire. We are on fire. It was a good training week so far.

“I feel the confidence, I feel the belief. It’s not just about the shape and the tactic, but it’s also about how we go in duels, how we win the balls, how we play forward.”

The German said: “It’s a crucial game, but no team will be out after this game because there are still 27 points you can take. It’s two matchdays and you are in the title race again.

“It’s a crucial one because when you come closer and closer to the end of the season and there is more and more in, then you know every game is important.”

On Naderi, Rohl said of the German who joined from Hansa Rostock: “I’m very happy that we could sign him, very late. It was a long process with him. He showed straight away that he wanted to come and was very clear.

“We tracked him the last couple of weeks and months. He scored, he had some good assists, he’s powerful, he can run. Good header, good physicality, good pressing player – a lot of things we need up front. He needs some minutes to adapt to a new league.

“He played regularly a lot of minutes in the last couple of weeks.”

Rohl also likened Naderi to Germany forwards Fredi Bobic and Nick Woltemade, the latter with Newcastle United and Bobic having retired in 2006.

Scottish Premiership leaders Heart of Midlothian could move nine points clear of Celtic and Rangers with victory over St Mirren on Tuesday evening (20:00 GMT). Rangers host Kilmarnock on Wednesday (19:45), when Celtic are away to Aberdeen (20:00).

“We have minimum two games against them,” Rohl said of “consistent” Hearts.

“We can win a lot of games until the end of the season. I can’t give you the guarantee that we win 14 games because there is still the opponent.

“I’m totally convinced that this group has everything to move forward in these final steps.”