Russell Martin wants his Rangers players to "play with a bit more joy"
Champions League play-off: Rangers v Club Brugge
Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Date: Tuesday, 19 August Time: 20:00 BST
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, follow live text coverage on the BBC Sport website & app
Russell Martin has told his mother and others not to "worry" about him and insists he's "enjoying" being Rangers head coach.
While Martin's side have negotiated Champions League qualifiers with Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen, both Scottish Premiership games so far have ended in draws and a 4-2 Premier Sports Cup win over League 1 Alloa Athletic was only put to bed late on.
"A lot of people message me, who read message boards and stuff, concerned about me and they just don't have to be," said summer arrival Martin before Tuesday's Champions League play-off first leg at home to Club Brugge.
"I keep telling my mum, 'don't worry about it'. It's all good. I'm enjoying it. I'm really enjoying it."
Martin has urged his squad to "play with a bit more joy".
"We have to win while we're going through some pain," explained the former Southampton boss.
"We have to attack it with everything we can. I really believe that we can do it.
"They have to play with a bit more joy here at Ibrox because it can be so special and so brilliant and there's still a bit of tension at times and all that stuff.
"Enjoy the horrible part of the game. Enjoy competing, enjoy fighting, enjoy looking around knowing your mate's going to do his job properly at their set piece, enjoy having clarity in what you're being asked to do on the pitch."
Rangers are bidding to go past the Champions League play-off round for the first time in three years.
"This is huge," Martin added. "It's massive for us as a group of staff, massive for the team, massive for the club.
"Financially, obviously, what it would do for the football club would be huge. So, I think if we were able to do it, which I really believe we are, if we can do it and qualify for it, I think it would be brilliant.
"And not just financially but what it would do for the players and their belief. And to then pit yourself against some of the best teams in the world would be brilliant, a brilliant opportunity for us."
Team news
Martin described Cyriel Dessers' fitness as "touch and go." The forward missed the weekend win over Alloa after coming off injured last midweek against Viktoria Plzen. Should he miss Tuesday's game, he is expected back by the weekend.
Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin is set to play after sitting out the Alloa game.
Rangers hope new left-back signing Jayden Meghoma will be registered in time to play but the 19-year-old may not be match ready.
Fellow left-back Jefte, who is close to leaving Rangers, and winger Oscar Cortes were omitted from the squad submitted to Uefa for the tie.
Who are Club Brugge?
Rangers played Club Brugge in a pre-season friendly in early July but Martin said neither side can take much from that 2-2 draw and he is right. Both teams will look markedly different at the same venue on Tuesday night.
Nicky Hayen's side may have failed to defend their Belgian Pro League title, losing out by three points to Union Saint-Gilloise last term, but they reached the last 16 of last season's Champions League before losing 6-1 on aggregate to Aston Villa.
It is a feat they have managed twice in the past three seasons, having been in the group or league phase for seven of the past nine campaigns overall. Their pedigree at this level is clear.
This summer, though, Brugge sold midfielder Ardon Jashari to AC Milan for around £25m, while left-back Maxim De Cuyper and winger Chemsdine Talbi joined Brighton and Sunderland in multi-million pound deals.
Arguably their star man, Greece international winger Christos Tzolis, has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, but is in the travelling party to Scotland.
That is a big boost for Brugge, as their wide men are key threats. Along with Tzolis down the left, Carlos Forbs caused havoc down the right in the last round against Salzburg, and got on the scoresheet in the 3-2 home win.
The Portuguese speedster was on loan at Wolves last season and his directness is imposing, along with Tzolis and new signing Mamdou Diakhon from Stade Reims, who could make his debut.
Veteran midfielder and captain Hans Vanaken has come up with big moments in the Champions League regularly for Brugge, and is good for a goal and assists from midfield.
This Brugge side are young and far from unbeatable. But to take a healthy advantage into the away leg - as Rangers have done in the past two rounds - it will take comfortably the best performance of Martin's short tenure.
What they said
Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgard: "We played them pre-season [in a 2-2 draw at Ibrox]. We saw the quality that they have.
"We know a little bit about each other. I think we can use that tactically. It's a big team. You see them most years competing in European football so it'll be a really good test."
Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen: "[Russell Martin] is a manager who has a certain style of play. It's very clear how he wants to play. A lot of dominant football. Attractive football.
"There are two teams who want the ball. They have a lot of quality to do something with the ball. That makes it difficult also because there will be a lot of space. The team who is the best in keeping the ball, progressing, use the spaces, they will have a good chance to win the game."
