Rangers Coach Russell Martin Remains Optimistic Despite Poor Start
Russell Martin, head coach of Rangers, asserts that the confidence among his players is at its highest level since he took charge, and he believes they can still contend for the Scottish Premiership title despite a challenging start to the season.
The team has managed to secure only four wins out of 14 matches this season, failing to win any of their first five league games and losing four out of their last seven.
Currently sitting second from the bottom in the Premiership standings, Rangers suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Genk in their Europa League opener on Thursday, following a disheartening exit against Club Brugge in Champions League qualifying.
While Martin acknowledged that they cannot afford to wait much longer for their first league victory, he remains confident that they can overcome the nine-point gap to league leaders Celtic and Hearts.
As his team prepares to face Livingston on Sunday, Martin stated, "We aim to be at the top of the table by the end of the season. If we delay much longer, we risk running out of games. We still have time to build, win, and close the points gap, starting this Sunday. We need to be eager and ready to make up the difference."
Despite the loss to Genk, where Mohamed Diomande was sent off just four minutes before halftime, Martin expressed that the players are in a positive mindset. He noted that many of the new additions to the squad are young but are gradually grasping what it means to represent a club like Rangers.
Martin emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, "The unity, the readiness to support one another, and the determination to take responsibility, even with ten men, will serve us well moving forward."
Addressing concerns about his position, Martin remarked that the threat to a manager's job is a constant reality in football. He stated that he does not pay attention to external pressures, despite some fans calling for his dismissal.
He clarified the nature of discussions with chairman Andrew Cavenagh and chief executive Patrick Stewart following the recent defeat, saying, "The media tends to exaggerate these conversations, suggesting they are about whether I will stay or go. In reality, we simply discuss improvements, performance, and our next match. It's always straightforward and honest."