Russell Martin maintains he isn’t worried about his Rangers future despite a 9-1 aggregate loss to Club Brugge in Champions League qualifying and fan unrest. He acknowledges the poor start to the season and apologizes to the fans, but claims to have the backing of the club’s executives. As he prepares for his first Old Firm Derby against Celtic, Martin is focused on improving the team’s performance and securing a victory to restore fan confidence, emphasizing that his job security is not solely dependent on the outcome of the upcoming match.
Russell Martin is facing a baptism of fire as Rangers head coach, but he insists he's not feeling the heat after the team's disastrous 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs. The humiliating loss has piled pressure on the relatively new manager, with fans expressing their discontent both at the stadium and online.
The defeat to Brugge was a new low for Rangers in European competition. After a 3-1 loss at Ibrox, the team traveled to Belgium and were utterly dismantled, suffering a 6-0 thrashing. The early sending off of Max Aarons only compounded their misery, leaving them with an insurmountable task. This result marks Rangers' heaviest defeat away from home since 1963, a stark reminder of the club's painful history in European football.
This season marks the third consecutive year that Rangers have failed to reach the Champions League group stage, a significant blow to the club's ambitions and finances. Their last appearance in the competition was in the 2022-23 season, and the fans are growing increasingly impatient with the lack of progress on the European stage.
Martin's tenure, which is less than three months old, has already been marred by fan protests. Chants calling for his dismissal echoed around the stadium after the Brugge defeat, and a banner with the message "Get him out now before the seats are empty" was displayed at Ibrox. This illustrates the growing frustration among the Rangers faithful, who demand immediate improvements.
Adding to Martin's woes, Rangers have endured a poor start to the Scottish Premiership season, failing to win any of their first three matches. This is the worst start for a new Rangers manager since 1978, when John Greig failed to win any of his first six league games. The pressure is mounting on Martin to turn things around quickly and deliver the results that the fans expect.
Despite the mounting pressure, Martin claims he has the backing of key figures at the club, including chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell. He believes they understand the challenges he faces and are committed to giving him time to implement his vision for the team.
"I have nothing to say but really apologise to the fans that travelled and the fans back home," Martin told TNT Sports. "Patrick and Kevin, I've had a chat with them already. They're amazingly supportive. They knew this would take time, they understand the club's position."
The immediate future doesn't offer any respite for Martin, as his first Old Firm Derby against Celtic looms large on Sunday. This match is always a high-stakes encounter, but it carries even greater significance given Rangers' current form and the pressure on their manager.
However, Martin is adamant that the Old Firm Derby will not be decisive for his future at Rangers. He is focused on finding the right formula for the team and believes that a positive performance, regardless of the result, can help to build momentum and restore confidence.
"We're still trying to find out the best XI. On Sunday, we need to put a team on the pitch that is really willing to give everything," Martin said. "I don't think I've learnt anything new tonight; I'm just embarrassed by the defeat. It's probably the toughest night I've had as a head coach.
"It doesn't change the fact that I think we will progress, move forward and grow. I don't think we need to win on Sunday to secure my job. We need to win to make ourselves feel better and make the fans feel better, to give them a performance they can be proud of."
Both Celtic and Rangers will now compete in the Europa League, after Celtic lost their Champions League play-off tie against Kazakh champions Kairat in a penalty shoot-out. Martin will be hoping that a successful Europa League campaign can help to appease the fans and secure his long-term future at Ibrox. The road ahead will be tough, but Martin remains determined to turn things around and deliver success to Rangers.