The tension ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster FA Cup clash with Celtic has just been turned up to boiling point — and it’s all because of one explosive pre-match interview.
What was supposed to be a routine press conference quickly turned into headline material when Danny Röhl delivered a fiery reflection on his team’s last dramatic encounter with Celtic, a match that ended in a heartbreaking late draw.
And according to the manager, that result still hasn’t sat right with him.
Speaking to reporters with a calm but intense tone, Röhl revisited the moment that stunned supporters — the late Celtic equaliser that snatched victory away at the death.
“You know, when I think about that game again,” he said, shaking his head slightly, “we controlled large parts of it. We did so many things right.”
Then came the line that immediately grabbed every journalist in the room.
“If we are honest… we should have won that game.”
The statement instantly sparked murmurs across the press room.
Celtic’s late goal had crushed his side after they had fought tirelessly for 90 minutes, and Röhl admitted the dressing room felt the pain long after the final whistle.
“It was a difficult moment for the players,” he continued. “You work so hard, you execute the plan, and then in the final moments it slips away. That hurts.”
But instead of dwelling on the frustration, Röhl revealed that the painful draw has actually fuelled the squad’s mentality ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup clash.
And that’s when he delivered the phrase that has already gone viral among supporters.
“This game is about pure mentality.”
Röhl leaned forward as he explained the message he has been drilling into his squad throughout the week.
“I told the players something very simple. Football matches like this are not decided by reputation or noise. They are decided by belief.”
He then made a bold claim that immediately raised the stakes ahead of the weekend showdown.
“We know Celtic are a massive club,” Röhl admitted. “Their history, their supporters, their success — everyone knows it.”
“But if you go into a game thinking about that too much, you lose already.”
Instead, Röhl says his players must focus on the same mentality that almost earned them victory the last time the two sides met.
“We showed in that match that we can compete,” he said. “We showed courage, we showed discipline, and we showed personality.”
Then came the quote that left reporters scrambling to write it down.
“If we bring that same mentality again — but this time finish the job — the story can be very different.”
The manager’s words have already lit up social media, with fans debating whether Röhl has just issued a warning shot to Celtic ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Despite the bold tone, Röhl insisted his comments were not meant as disrespect toward the Scottish giants.
“Celtic are an incredible team,” he said. “They have experience in big matches and they know how to punish small mistakes.”
“But the last game showed something important to us.”
He paused before delivering one final message that could easily end up defining the entire tie.
“We looked them in the eyes and we competed. That’s the reality.”
“And if we do that again with pure mentality… anything can happen.”
As the press conference ended, the buzz around the upcoming FA Cup clash grew even louder.
Because after Röhl’s bold comments — and the lingering memory of that painful last-minute equaliser — Sunday’s match now feels like more than just another cup game.
For Röhl and his players, it feels like unfinished business.
And this time, the manager is making one thing absolutely clear:
They’re not coming for another draw.