Russell Martin called out his players after Motherwell draw
Rangers head coach Russell Martin says his side must shed their mindset of "self-preservation" and embrace the demands of playing for the club as they prepare for a crucial Champions League qualifier against Viktoria Plzen.
The Ibrox boss gave a scathing post-match debrief from his side's draw with Motherwell in their Scottish Premiership opener at the weekend, but hopes his players can fully take on board his message, insisting it came from a "place of love".
Rangers' third qualifying round tie against the Czech side will be broadcast live on BBC Scotland.
Martin bemoaned his side's application and endeavour at Fir Park, saying his side's issue was a "mentality problem".
Asked if it was a case of tough love for the players, he said: "I think if they know us by now as a group of coaching staff, that it all comes from a place of love, really, and care for them.
"I don't come out and say that because I want to be ruthless and all that stuff. If they know me as a person, people who do know me, they know comes from a place of love and to help them, to want them to be better.
"So I think when you come from that place, whatever is said, if they understand that, then we always have a really honest and good conversation about it, and I think and hope they understand who we are by now and what we're here to do.
"And I really believe they're really trying, and it's just that learned behaviour and that default, and we have to change that a little bit because they're really good human beings.
"So they're good people, but the default is to try and protect yourself when it gets tough, we need to just shift that a little bit."
Rangers lurch into another big week for the club after securing a date in the Champions League third round of qualifying by seeing off Panathinaikos last week.
Martin was not concerned about his comments which then followed the game at Fir Park having a detrimental effect on his side, but insists that if any players shrink under the pressure, then they should not expect to be a part of his squad.
"I think if it has a detrimental effect on certain individuals, then they're probably not the ones we want to come on the journey with us," said the former Rangers defender.
"So I think if it has a detrimental effect on you and it hurts you to the point where you feel singled out, then there's probably an issue with you being all in at this place and this club and with us.
"I don't have any worry about it being detrimental on the team."
Team news
Martin confirmed that Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane will again miss out through fitness issues, while it is not clear if Mikey Moore, the 17-year-old attacker who has signed on loan from Tottenham, will receive international clearance in time to be part of the squad.
What about Plzen?
If Rangers were preparing to face a Viktoria Plzen side featuring star midfielder Pavel Sulc, then those plans will have to change.
The Czech club announced on Monday that a transfer was "being finalised", and that was followed by news of Sulc signing for French club Lyon.
Rangers will surely welcome the confirmation, given Sulc was the Czech league's player of the season for the 2024-25 campaign and a regular scorer and goal creator.
The deal is worth an initial £6.5m (7.5m euros) with an additional £2.2m (2.5m euros) in add-ons.
Viktoria Plzen president Adolf Sadek said on his club's website: "Pavel has significantly helped us advance past the second qualifying round of the Champions League and he has received an adequate offer from a team playing in one of the top five competitions in Europe, which is a long-term goal in our transfer strategy.
"Now is the right time for him to taste a top-class foreign engagement."
Related topics
- Published15 hours ago
