Rangers boss Russell Martin not giving up hope on Champions League dream

Russell Martin believes Rangers can still get through their Champions League play-off tie despite the 3-1 defeat by Club Brugge at Ibrox.

In a nightmare first 20 minutes, goals from Romeo Vermant – following some calamitous defending by Gers defender Nasser Djiga – Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele had the visitors 3-0 up and Ibrox in an uproar.

Brazilian striker Danilo pulled a goal back four minutes after the break and the home side rallied, but the Belgian outfit stood firm and boos greeted the players at the end.

The second leg is in Belgium next Wednesday but against the evidence of the first half at Ibrox, Martin remains optimistic.

“We conceded a crazy goal and didn’t respond to it anywhere well enough,” he said.

“We then conceded a goal from a corner which is really frustrating.

“And then it becomes so difficult and then after that, we make decisions based on desperation and anxiety, jump when we shouldn’t, get played around and so the game plan went out the window at that point.

“And we needed a moment to calm down and refocus but it was difficult and we didn’t respond well as a club to that because we were hurt early in the game.

“The lads showed amazing resilience in the second half, the fans were amazing the second half, considering the disappointment of the first half.

“And the tie is still open and the players feel that, they really feel that.

“I am proud of them and the first half was as hard as it will ever be and how they got through that, some of the guys who have had a tough start here, the way they played tonight, they will grow from that and we will as a group.

“So the tie is still game on so I am excited about that opportunity.

“My message to supporters is the team needs them. Whatever happens, we need them. We have to give them enough to believe in their team.

“Everyone’s entitled to their opinions but we need everyone to grow together if we want to be successful.”

Club Brugge boss Nicky Hayen also insisted the tie was far from over.

He said: “We knew where the spaces were. We played here in the friendly game (pre-season), and we showed also in that first half that if our players play at their best level, that they can hurt a lot of teams.

“We said before the game, OK, the atmosphere is incredible, but you have to embrace the atmosphere and not fight against it, and this is what they did in the first seven minutes perfectly, and this is the way how you can get the silence into a stadium.

“But as long as there is still 90 minutes to play, everything is possible.

“We don’t forget that we are 2-0 down against Salzburg also. So we have to be smart, we have to be intelligent, play our best football, like in the first half.”