Rangers' Champions League opener 'not season-defining'

Russell Martin will take charge of a competitive Rangers game for the first time

Champions League qualifying: Rangers v Panathinaikos

Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Date: Tuesday, 22 July Time: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app

Rangers' opening match of the season with Panathinaikos will "not be season defining", says Russell Martin but the head coach is eager to leave supporters "feeling positively".

Martin takes charge of a competitive match for the first time since being appointed at Ibrox as the Greek Super League runners-up travel to Glasgow for Tuesday's Champions League second qualifying round first leg.

The winner after next Wednesday's return leg will meet Viktoria Plzen or Servette, while a Europa League qualifying tie with Besiktas or Shakhtar Donetsk is the consolation prize for the loser.

"It's not going to be a season-defining game. It's not. It's a really, really big game," said Martin.

"The season is a long season. We'll be defined by what we do between now and May.

"I've been so pleased over four weeks, but it's not a long time. Tomorrow is going to be a real big test for us to see how far along we are and see how much work we have to do.

"That's the most interesting and exciting bit for us as a coaching staff, is that tomorrow we will learn a lot about the group and learn a lot about what we need to prioritise moving forward over the next few weeks.

"One of the things that has to come out of it is that the supporters leave feeling positively about their team, their new look, the way it is going to start to shape up.

"Hopefully, the fans will leave feeling excited about what is to come and start feeling a real connection because I think if we can be connected, the whole club, Ibrox here, the supporters. If this club has that, with that energy, I think it is going to take some stopping."

While Rangers under Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson finished last season 17 points behind Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, Rui Vitoria's Panathinaikos were 16 points off Super League winners Olympiacos.

A Cyriel Dessers goal gave Rangers a 1-1 draw away to Olympiacos in last season's Europa League.

"They're a team that know each other well," said former Southampton manager and one-time Rangers defender Martin of Panathinaikos.

"They have some very talented players. They have some real strengths. So do we."

Team news

New Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgard is unavailable. Recent winger signing Djeidi Gassama and forwards Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane are only likely to feature as substitutes.

Max Aarons, Lyall Cameron, Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez and Joe Rothwell are potential debutants for the hosts.

Established players Ben Davies, Rabbi Matondo, Ross McCausland, Robin Propper and Ridvan Yilmaz are not in Rangers' squad for this tie, nor is injured Dujon Sterling.

"They're not ready to start a game yet," Martin said of Dessers, Gassama and Igamane. "They're not ready to play 90 minutes but they're definitely ready to contribute.

"We'll see them at some point over the two ties. How many minutes will be defined by how the game is going. But they're physically ready to help us, just not over 90 minutes yet. When you miss pre-season at any age, it's really difficult."

Rangers players including captain James Tavernier in training on Monday

What they said

Rangers captain James Tavernier: "Obviously, our objective is to get the win. It's a fresh start for the club. We're already excited to get behind it. It's a new season and we obviously want to push ourselves to the very end.

"[Tuesday] night's the most important game of our season so far. It's our first game. We've got to really take real advantage of being at Ibrox with our fans and try to take a good result going over to play in the second leg. We know it's going to be a hot one over there in the second leg.

"They're going to be a tough test. It's the first competitive game of our season. From the very first whistle, we need to put our stamp on the game. You have to set a tone, you have to set a tone in every single game."

Panathinaikos head coach Rui Vitoria: "Yes, it has been a challenge for me because I didn't see almost any games. They have only played one friendly match against Brugge, which was open. The rest were closed so it was very difficult for us to have a lot of information.

"He's a new coach and new ideas, so of course, it will be different football than previously here. Maybe the coach from Rangers has more information about us than us about them.

"The atmosphere is always fantastic and the fans want to be on the pitch. But when we go to the pitch we only focus on the first 11 of the team."