Rangers

We asked for your views on Rangers' potential opponents if they get past Viktoria Plzen in the third round of qualifying.

Here's what some of you said:

Alex: If we manage to get through our third qualifying round I'm quite content with our draw. There's no easy games in Europe, everyone who's in it made it there on merit. One team I wanted to avoid was Benfica if they were to advance to the play-off round as well as us, so relatively I'm happy with the draw.

Jim: If they perform as they did against Motherwell they have no chance, where was the fight? The desire to win? The playing for the jersey? I would love to see them qualify but they have to up their game and I can't see that happening with the tactics the manager employs.

Ronnie: We're simply not good enough for the Champions League. Make some money, get past Plzen then drop to the Europa League. That is our level. Rangers cannot go toe-to-toe with the big boys. Once upon a time maybe, but not any longer. We have been abysmal and lucky to have got past the Greeks. Sorry but that is how it is.

Louise: European football is great but I think we all know that Rangers are not a Champions League side. I know this is where the money is, but we are guaranteed Europa League football which is much more our level, so the Champions League will be what it will be. Most fans will be craving domestic success first.

Sally: Given recent performances the chances of Rangers progressing in the Champions League are extremely remote. The board will have to hold up their hands and admit Russell Martin was the wrong choice!

David: There's too much talk already about who we play next. Simply we will not be playing anyone without a big improvement after Saturday's showing. Full focus on getting past the Czechs in this round.

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

After the Panathinkos tie, I was looking forward to the Motherwell game, especially as it was two new managers trying to implement their styles.

Unfortunately for Rangers and Russell Martin, the Motherwell side looked far more comfortable and were worth more than the 1-1 draw.

Martin alluded to players having to drop their ego and work harder, but that wasn't our only issue, especially in the second half.

There are several, let's call them teething problems, with the system. For example, Max Aarons has to come inside the pitch due to his lack of efficiency on his left foot. The midfield is far too open in transition, basically leaving the number six on their own when the two number eights are ahead of the ball.

In possession, Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande are playing as the number eights so far and they look lost at points. They are having to cut inside to use their stronger feet and when they are having to play high and wider, they have to cross the ball on their weaker foot. It's not working for either so far, thus making us ineffectual in the final third. It's a situation that needs addressing by the management team.

The attack is tepid and lacking in quality. Well, that's unfair on Djeidi Gassama. He looks a threat and looks like a very useful addition.

Furthermore, I have some sympathy for Danilo. He's working hard and has yet to receive the support or a clear-cut chance in three matches.

I'm leaving Kieran Dowell to last because he should never be near this Rangers side. He's not got the quality or the drive to be playing for this club, never mind on the right wing.

Hopefully, the signing of Mikey Moore and the arrival of Oliver Antman mean that Dowell will no longer occupy that position. Let's be honest, he should be out the door come the end of the transfer window, along with several others.

We shall see how the team reacts against Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox because we need a marked improvement from both players and the manager.

Rangers will be without Mikey Moore for the first leg of their Champions League qualifying tie against Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday because the 17-year-old hasn't received the necessary clearance from Uefa. (Daily Record), external

Rangers are hopeful that interest in striker Hamza Igamane from Everton, Feyenoord, Rennes and Udinese could spark a bidding war and drive up the player's price. (Football Insider), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, SNS

Lyall Cameron says being at Rangers is "a different world" to what life was like at Dundee.

The midfielder joined the Ibrox club in the summer and made his competitive debut in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Motherwell, replacing Mohamed Diomande for the final half an hour.

Rangers led for much of the match at Fir Park, thanks to James Tavernier's first-half header, but Motherwell equalised late on to snatch a point, and manager Russell Martin didn't shy away from criticising the attitude shown by his players after the final whistle.

"The overall feeling on Saturday was disappointment," the 22-year-old said.

"I wanted to come on and help the team win. To draw in the end wasn't good enough.

"We understand how critical it's been since then in the media, the fans weren't happy, but that's expected because we need to win games, and we know it wasn't good enough."

Cameron knows it's not the last of the criticism his new side will receive, but he is fully focused on giving his all for the club.

"It's a different world here than what I was used to [at Dundee]," he added.

"Every game is so much bigger, the pressure and everything. I just take everything as it comes, I don't get too involved in anything.

"I just keep myself out of it, give 100 per cent and know I'm doing the best I can do."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Russell Martin has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League third qualifying round.

Here are the key points:

• Rangers manager Russell Martin says his criticism of the players "comes from a place of love" and that his honesty comes from the fact that he's "not here to play games".

• Adding he's "always going to be honest" and that if some players take umbrage to his message, then there's "an issue with you being all-in" at the club.

• He repeated his mantra that he needs players to "fight, run and help" their teammates, and if they can't, he's suggested they may not have a future at Ibrox: "it's not for everyone, playing for this club."

• Martin is adamant that his players "learn better habits" and achieve a "better foundation".

• The head coach adds that the squad have "trained like beasts" since his post-match claim that some players were too interested in "self preservation'" during the 1-1 draw with Motherwell.

• The former Southampton boss hopes to have winger Oliver Antman, who signed from Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles, registered and available for Tuesday's Champions League qualifier against Viktoria Plzen.

• He also added Hamza Igamane and new signing Thelo Aasgaard won't be available for the midweek game.

Image source, Getty Images

Rangers have been handed a boost ahead of their Champions League qualification tie with Viktoria Plzen.

Their opponents tomorrow evening will be without one of their star players, Czech Republic international Pavel Sulc, as he is about to complete a transfer away from the club.

While the Czech club have not announced his forthcoming destination, they say his move is to a "renowned European club."

Chairman and chief executive Adolf Sadek told Plzen's official website: "Pavel has been given the green light by the club to transfer abroad.

"All the formalities, including a medical examination, are currently being finalised.

"If everything goes according to plan, he will transfer to a renowned European club."

If Scottish Premiership runners-up Rangers get past Viktoria Plzen in the third round of qualifying, they take on either RB Salzburg or Club Brugge.

The play-off ties will take place over 19/20 August and 26/27 August, with the winners progressing to the league phase of the tournament.

Rangers fans, what do you make of the draw? How confident are you about progressing?

Have your say here

Watch Sportscene analysis of Russell Martin's signings so far and what more he needs to do, after Rangers' 1-1 draw against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch highlights of Motherwell's 1-1 draw against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

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Kieran Dowell says Rangers' opening day draw with Motherwell was a "reality check" for the Ibrox club.

Russell Martin's side led for most of the game thanks to James Tavernier's header after 14 minutes.

But an 87th minute equaliser from Motherwell's Emmanuel Longelo confined Martin's side to a draw, making it the third successive season Rangers have failed to win their opening game.

Speaking after the game, the new manager criticised his side's performance and mentality.

And Dowell thinks the boss was right to do so.

"The first season I was here, we got beaten on the first day of the season 1-0 by Kilmarnock and it was in our hands by the end of the season," midfielder Dowell said.

"So it's a cliche, but it is a long season and there's plenty of time to catch up.

"But it's a few home truths [from Martin] I think. Obviously, we had a good start and then didn't put the game to bed. Almost sleep-walked into conceding that equaliser and probably deserved it in the end.

"I think the manager's been here five, six weeks now and that's what he's noticed.

"It's not been a successful time for the club and maybe we needed those sort of home truths, maybe some of the lads needed that.

"It's not for me to say. It's the manager's opinion and he said to us 'look yourself in the mirror'.

"And it's down to us, as players. We've obviously had a few managers now and it's up to us to prove it, if we want to be at this club going forward."

We asked for your views on

Here's what some of you said:

Jim: Different day, the same old rubbish. Now I understand why Southampton were relegated, they were lucky to get a draw. Keep playing in that format and in that way, they'll be lucky to stay in the top half of the league, an absolutely abysmal performance.

Brian: A new season and a new manager with new players, but the same old performance. Nothing new that wasn't there last season, poor passing, poor kick outs, and, considering the amount of corners, only one goal. Shocking. The same old excuses that we have heard before many times.

Allan: Nothing much seems to have changed since last season. I hope we improve but I was never sure about our new manager. We need better tactics and not to think that one goal would be enough. The killer instinct of the last season we won the league seems to have deserted us. We need a whole new plan and the players and coaching staff need to play for the shirt.

Dave: The most worrying thing is we look worse than last season. No pace in defence or attack, no midfield and no goal scorer up front. We were very luck to get through in the Champions League but we were exposed as mediocre at best. Europa League and second in the Premiership is the best we can hope for. Hopefully the new American owners will act to remedy the situation before the whole season is a write off yet again.

Bob: Pathetic performance, not enough skill in the team to play Russell Martin's way. Too laboured on the ball - too slow in thought and action. After this display and the coach's words I am really worried for this season. Top-six hopefully.

Chris: Poor show. I was not inspired by the choice of manager nor have I been impressed by the new signings. I wouldn't be surprised if we finish fourth, never mind second. Lack of determination to win.

Image source, Getty Images

Oliver Antman is set to become Rangers' latest summer signing after the Ibrox club agreed a £3m deal with Go Ahead Eagles for the Finland winger. (Daily Record), external

Rangers will insist on a fee of between £15-20m if they are to let striker Hamza Igamane leave this summer. (Football Insider), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

Rangers dropped points on the opening day for the third Scottish Premiership season in a row after Motherwell scored a late equaliser to deny Russell Martin a winning league start.

Let us know your thoughts on the game here.

Read the full match report here.

Image source, SNS

Rangers captain James Tavernier tells Sky Sports: "Obviously [after] the first 45 minutes we were going in 1-0 up, we knew that we had to go up the gears and work on things in the second half, and we didn't do that.

"We didn't go and improve our first half, which we wanted to do, that's obviously something we'll have to look back on. It has to be better than that.

"None of us are happy in there with the performance we put in, obviously, it's a long season and you don't want to start like this, but it's obviously done now, and now we need to really focus on Tuesday and really work out what needs to be done.

"This team is obviously a new team, but we can't waste any chances.

"Obviously, going to have to look back on it, it's still really raw and fresh so we're going to look back on it tomorrow, and we'll get into details of what needs to be better. We'll have to look back on it.

"It's clear a simple, this club want to win trophies, the fans want to win trophies, so performances like this aren't acceptable for us as a team and the standards we want to set ourselves.

"The first half, we can take a little bit of a positive, but we knew we had to step it up, and we didn't do that, so that's obviously an area where we need to look at."

Image source, SNS

Russell Martin tells BBC Scotland: "I think we were lucky with what we got, Motherwell were really good.

"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 football properly and when we want to run hard when it's going well, and then when the game's not going well, we have too many players that want to do their own thing and slip into self-preservation.

"And this is not me blaming the players at all, but 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.

"We have to work out quickly who really wants to dig in and fight and do what we're asking them to do.

"We didn't run enough, we didn't fight enough, we weren't brave enough.

"Thankfully, we got a point.

"One run and then walking back to your position is not enough, it's not going to be us.

"I think there will be changes to the team [for midweek], Lyall Cameron came on and did great, really good. And it's not everyone, there are a couple of players who have been really good, John [Souttar] really good, Jack [Butland] really good, Cyriel [Dessers], when he came on, was great.

"We have a few decisions to make now, and we have a lot of work to do now. I don't think that's a surprise, we're six weeks in, but the problems can't be… the problems need to be tactical and not about mentality.

"So from the first half of the two European games, we improved in the second half because the penalty was better, it wasn't really a tactical tweak, maybe a little bit but today we paid the price for being nowhere near mentally resilitent enough, strong enough, together enough, so that's what will happen if you don't."

Rangers are in talks with Leeds United over a permanent transfer to the Scottish Premiership club for 23-year-old midfielder Joe Gelhardt. (Pete O'Rourke on X), external

Rangers are ready to end the experiment of using Max Aarons at left-back and have contacted Kassoum Ouattara's camp about a transfer from Monaco, but the 20-year-old is also on the radar of Celtic, Augsburg, Toulouse, PSV Eindhoven and Metz. (Sebastien Vidal on X), external

Rangers head coach Russell Martin has confirmed that right-back summer signing Max Aarons will not be his long-term left-back despite starting there in their Champions League qualifying victory over Panathinaikos. (Glasgow Times), external

Rangers' Champions League qualifying opponents, Viktoria Plzen, have agreed a deal to sell 24-year-old Czech Republic attacking midfielder Pawel Sulc to Lyon for £6.6m, reaching £8.7m with add-ons, with a medical to follow. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.