Despite a recent downturn in results and performances under Danny Rohl, Rangers and Tochi Chukwuani still harbour hopes of snatching the Scottish Premiership title from under the noses of Celtic and Hearts.
Rangers face St Mirren in Paisley on Sunday lunchtime in the knowledge that more dropped points would prove to be a mighty blow to their silverware prospects.
But, two months after Sturm Graz sold Tochi Chukwuani in a £4 million deal, Rangers’ January signing speaks about the title-winning experience he savoured during his time in the Austrian Bundesliga.
An experience which should only be to the benefit of his new Ibrox teammates during a tense run-in.
Tochi Chukwuani brings title-winning nous to Rangers
Chukwuani joined Sturm Graz from Danish outfit Lyngby Boldklub in 2024 and marked his debut campaign in Austria with a Bundesliga title. The Denmark Under-21 international played 27 matches, helping to end Red Bull Salzburg’s decade of domestic dominance.
“I obviously knew Sturm Graz and Salzburg are the two most dominant clubs in Austrian football. At the time, Sturm Graz had just won it before [in 2023/24], and I saw how they were celebrating and everything,” Chukwuani tells the official Rangers YouTube channel.
“That was something I wanted to be a part of as well. Winning that championship was just such a big relief and a sign of the hard work that I and the team did at that time, because it’s never easy to win a title there.”
Former Sheffield Wednesday coach Danny Rohl has come under fire in recent weeks. Strangely enough, Rangers’ only win in their last five matches in all competitions came against league leaders Hearts. Should Celtic and Hearts defeat Motherwell and Kilmarnock today, the Gers will head to St Mirren nine points off the top.
Chukwuani, at least, knows what it takes to handle the pressure of such a situation.
“I think so far it’s been very good [at Rangers],” he adds. “Again, a different culture to learn, fantastic people inside the club and also around the club, you really get a feeling of that. I think the word I want to use is the club is kind of nostalgic. You can feel so much history is behind the club.
“I could already feel it when I wore the shirt for the first time. You could feel the shirt was very, very heavy due to the supporters the club has and also the players that played for the club before. So, I think it’s just been amazing so far.
“I think the atmosphere is very, very special. Anytime you step on the pitch, you can just hear about 50,000 people cheering. As a young guy, these are the kind of stadiums you want to be playing in. I think the stadium and the people are very special.
“Obviously, they expect a lot, and they are very entitled to. As a player, this is something that makes you want to fight on the pitch every time you step on it. You want to give something back to the fans like good performances and good memories.
“You need to win games, put good displays on, and also win titles. That’s the main pattern.”
Chukwuani ‘shocked myself’ with his performances at Sturm Graz
Chukwuani has partnered Nico Raskin for the most part since leaving Austria for Ibrox. He also reflects on his transition into a more defensively-minded number six at Sturm Graz, something he feels really developed and broadened his skillset.
“I think [playing for Sturm Graz] was a time I really grew to another level as a footballer,” Chukwuani reflects. “During this time, I did something which I’ve never done on a professional stage, which is playing a more deeper role.
“In the beginning, when I joined the club, I was playing more of a number six role due to the captain being injured. That was the first time I was being used in that kind of position in consistent games, and I think I proved that I was able to do that.
“I kind of shocked myself a little bit, being able to perform at the highest level in that position. I think that made me more of a complete player.”
