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Rangers boss Martin reflects on Motherwell draw
Watch Motherwell v Rangers highlights
02/08/25
Russell Martin’s tenure as Rangers head coach, though only 270 minutes in, has already seen him publicly critique his players.
Following the Ibrox side’s 1-1 draw against Motherwell in their Scottish Premiership opener, Martin stated his players were “lucky to get a point.”
The “extremely disappointed and hurt” Ibrox head coach suggested that the impressive Motherwell side were “braver” and “more aggressive” than his own team.
He criticised “two men on the pitch who want to do what they want to do” and implied some of his players “have to drop their ego.”
“The default is to revert to type,” he added. “It’s not really tactical, it’s a mentality problem.”
This marks the third consecutive season Rangers have failed to win their opening league match, but it is the first instance of Martin openly criticising his squad.
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On Wednesday in Athens, Martin acknowledged that performances could have been better across Rangers’ two-legged Champions League qualifying win over Panathinaikos, but he said he was “so proud” of his players.
Three days later, the mood has shifted remarkably.
Across two post-match interviews with BBC Scotland and Sky Sports, Martin chose not to hold back after his third game in charge of Rangers.
Here are the key lines from his furious reaction:
“I think we were lucky to get a point. We were nowhere near where we need to be. And I’m extremely disappointed and hurt by that. They were braver than us. They were more aggressive than us.”
“The thing I can’t accept is, whatever the tactics are, we got outfought and they were braver than us to play in certain moments.
“We pick and choose when we want to play properly and when we want to run hard. When the game’s not going well, we have too many players that want to do their own thing and slip into self-preservation.
“This is not me blaming the players at all; I think it’s a problem the club has had over the last few years. When it’s going well, it’s fine, and when it’s not, there’s a problem. It’s not together enough on the pitch.
“I’ve said to the players, there is a default here at this football club to revert to type. When it’s going really well, everyone’s all in. When it’s not going well, you protect yourself a little bit. You can’t play for this club and just enjoy the really good moments. You have to be all in all the time.”
“We had two men on the pitch today that want to do what they want to do. When you want to just jog around and do what you want to do, there’s a big problem. So some of them have to drop their ego.”
“There’ll be people left behind if they don’t want to come because they need to understand what playing for this football club will take and what it means.”
“The lethargy and all that stuff is not acceptable. So I’m surprised by that. But I’m more angry than surprised.”
“I will look at us tactically and accept my responsibility in it. But today, it’s a mentality problem. And we got more than what we deserved, actually.”
Before Motherwell found their late equaliser, former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson has expressed deep concern about his old side’s approach.
“At the moment there’s nothing coming from Rangers; it’s quite worrying,” he said on BBC Sportsound. “I’ve not got a clue what their tactic is. I don’t see it.”
After Motherwell netted the leveller their play more than merited, Ferguson added: “I’ve got a real worry after watching that second half. They players still have a lot to prove to that Rangers support.”
Speaking on Sky Sports, irate former Rangers striker Kris Boyd said: “It’s the same things that keep happening time after time after time.
“It’s early in the season. We know there are going to be players arriving. We know there are going to be players going out. But the alarming thing for is he’s calling them out so early on.”
Despite agreeing with Martin, former Celtic forward Chris Sutton was also taken aback by the Rangers boss’ comments, saying the remarks “were extreme”.
The head coach didn’t name the two players, but Mohamed Diomande and Danilo were both subsituted just after the hour and their respective replacements – Lyall Cameron and Cyriel Dessers – picked out for praise.
“For him to for him to do that first game of the season, he sees him every day in training, he must think they’re rank rotten,” Sutton said on Sky Sports.
“Because why wouldn’t there be a bit more balance there? When have you ever seen a manager do that first game of the season? That was extreme as extreme.”
Former Motherwell forward James McFadden said “a draw was a good result for Rangers based on that performance”.
The comment was perhaps made with tongue in cheek, but the stats back up it up.
Motherwell’s expected goals tally by the end of the match was 2.21 to Rangers’ 0.7.
Jens Berthel Askou’s brave and expansive side finished the game with five big chances, according to stats provider Opta. Rangers had one.
The 17 shots Martin’s side faced at Fir Park means his team have faced 51 efforts across just three games this season.
Over those three matches, Rangers have conceded only twice, but their opponents have amassed a total expected goals tally of 5.58.
That is simply unsustainable, and Martin will know that more than anyone.
Bill: It’s very early, but I would be surprised if this Rangers team put in a challenge for the league title. Very poor.
Stevie: Anyone got paint on a wall drying? Better watch than Russell Martin’s boring tactics.
George: Brutal. [Martin] does not have a clue. No style, no direction, no quality.
Graeme: Different manager, different team, same guff from Rangers.
Sarah: Same old Rangers, can’t close a game out.
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