Rangers Coach Russell Martin Addresses Criticism Ahead of Hibernian Match
Rangers head coach Russell Martin acknowledges that criticism is challenging and painful, but he remains confident in the team's potential for success under his leadership.
Following a defeat to Hearts last week, Rangers currently sit in 10th place in the Scottish Premiership, still searching for their first league victory of the season. This setback came after a significant loss against Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs last month. Since taking over in the summer, Martin has led the team to just three wins out of 12 matches.
A fan group has organized a protest against Martin and chief executive Patrick Stewart prior to Saturday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Hibernian, with Chairman Andrew Cavenagh present in Glasgow for the match.
Martin stated, "I cannot control the protests. I must respect and understand the fans' frustration and annoyance, as I feel it too. This is a crucial opportunity for our team to navigate this period and emerge stronger from it. Hopefully, once we start winning, everyone will unite behind us. We simply need to win football matches."
He continued, "It’s a difficult balance because the criticism is painful on a professional level. We are working tirelessly to deliver what the supporters want—a winning team that performs in a certain style. I am more frustrated than anyone when I hear that the team does not appear to be well-coached."
Rangers could find themselves at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership by their next league match. Martin is the first Rangers manager since John Greig in 1978 to begin his tenure without a win in his first five league games, yet he insists he cannot take the fan protests personally.
"I don’t know any of the fans, and they don’t know me or how hard we are working. It’s much more challenging for my family to deal with the situation than it is for us, as it’s a professional challenge we must accept. People worry about us," he added.
Martin also revealed he has been dealing with a chest infection around the time of the loss to Hearts, and a close family member was hospitalized for three days this week. Regarding Cavenagh’s visit, Martin said, "I was aware he would be coming a couple of weeks ago. He has been very supportive and will observe training today, as he typically does when he visits."
In defense of Stewart and director of football Kevin Thelwell, Martin remarked, "They genuinely care about making this club sustainable and successful again, ensuring that the club continues to thrive in the long term."
Nicolas Raskin Returns to Squad and is 'in Good Place'
Midfielder Nicolas Raskin, who was absent from the match against Hearts, has been included in the squad for the upcoming game against Hibernian. Raskin, who was seen attending last week’s match at Ibrox, also missed the recent goalless draw with Celtic, although Martin has stated that the situation regarding the Belgian midfielder has been "resolved."
Previously, Martin mentioned that Raskin needed to rebuild "trust" without providing specific reasons for his exclusion. He expressed optimism about Raskin's return, saying, "I’m looking forward to having him back in the squad. He has trained very well and is in a good place. This experience may be necessary for the group to improve and understand what is truly important. It will be a significant period for Nico's development both as a player and as a person, and I believe it will benefit me in the long term as well."