Rangers are facing a critical week with crucial matches against Club Brugge in the Champions League and Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. Midfielder Joe Rothwell has labeled the week as “season-defining,” acknowledging the pressure on manager Russell Martin following a poor start to the season. The team is six points behind Celtic in the league and suffered a first-leg defeat to Brugge. Rothwell urges the team and fans to rally together, recognizing the need for positive results to turn their season around and address the growing frustration among supporters.
Rangers midfielder Joe Rothwell has described the upcoming week as “season-defining” for the club, as they navigate critical fixtures in both the Champions League and the Scottish Premiership. The pressure is mounting on manager Russell Martin following a challenging start to his tenure at Ibrox.
Martin has endured one of the most difficult beginnings of any permanent Rangers manager, becoming the first to secure only three wins in his initial nine games (alongside four draws and two defeats). He also shares the unfortunate distinction with John Greig of being only the second Gers manager to fail to win any of his first three league matches, with Greig managing no wins in his first six back in 1978.
The team’s league form has been particularly concerning. After drawing their opening three Scottish Premiership games, Rangers find themselves already six points adrift of arch-rivals Celtic ahead of the highly anticipated first Old Firm derby of the season this Sunday. This gap has amplified the scrutiny on Martin and his squad.
Their Champions League aspirations are hanging by a thread after a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the first leg at Ibrox last week. The return leg in Belgium presents a significant uphill battle, requiring a substantial turnaround to keep their European dreams alive.
Rothwell believes that positive results in both the Champions League and the Premiership are vital to reignite the team’s season. He emphasized the importance of building momentum, particularly heading into the Old Firm clash.
“Wednesday night is a massive game for us,” Rothwell stated. “If we can go there and turn that tie around, then it’ll obviously give us massive confidence going into the weekend game.”
Joe Rothwell spoke to RangersTV after today’s match against St Mirren. pic.twitter.com/b4xh4v0u6O
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 24, 2025
“And then we play that game and who knows where it can take us, if we manage to pick up three points. It can be a defining week, two massive games in two different competitions and obviously we want to be playing Champions League football. That’s obviously the aim, so if we can go out there and do that and take the momentum into Sunday and then that hopefully can be a season-defining moment for us.”
The recent performances have not been well-received by the Rangers faithful. The team was subjected to boos from the stands during their loss to Club Brugge, and the discontent continued with similar reactions at both halftime and full-time in their recent draw against St. Mirren. This demonstrates the growing frustration among supporters.
Rothwell acknowledged the fans’ disappointment but appealed for their continued support, emphasizing the need for unity during this challenging period. “The fans just want the results and we want to give it to them and at the minute it’s just not quite going how we want it to go,” he explained. “Obviously they’re entitled to be disappointed, as we expect. But we just need them to stick with us and rally together and hopefully then we’re not far away from getting the results.”
The situation demands a swift and positive response from the players and the manager. The upcoming matches against Club Brugge and Celtic represent a pivotal moment in the season. A failure to secure favorable results could lead to further pressure and potentially jeopardize their ambitions in both competitions. Rothwell’s call for a collective effort – from the players, the manager, and the fans – underscores the gravity of the situation and the importance of a united front.
The Rangers squad will need to demonstrate resilience, tactical flexibility, and a renewed sense of purpose to overcome these obstacles. Martin will be under immense pressure to deliver results and silence the growing chorus of criticism. The next seven days will undoubtedly shape the narrative of Rangers’ season and determine whether they can salvage their ambitions or face a period of prolonged struggle.
