Rangers head coach Russell Martin admits he felt relief rather than joy after his side’s win over Hibernian – and wants the victory to be a turning point for his side.
The Ibrox side reached the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final with a 2-0 home victory over Hibs, against the backdrop of fan protests calling for Martin to be sacked after a poor start to the season.
The win was only his fourth from 13 games in charge but ended a five-match winless streak and he now wants the team to look forward and build on the positivity he feels.
“I’ll be really honest, I was really relieved on Saturday to win,” Martin said. “I’ve been really loving the process of working here, with the players and the staff, and I’ve felt nothing but support from them.
“I think obviously with the level of scrutiny you’re under all the time here…rather than joy, it was relief and can build and go again. It’s about what we have to do to improve and get better.
“We have to win more games and hopefully Saturday was the start of something for us.”
The head coach said that he wasn’t surprised by the level of scrutiny and revealed he takes a “perverse” enjoyment in how the spotlight is on the job. But after a difficult spell that has seen his future and the performances of his struggling side being discussed on a daily basis, he wants everyone at the club to grow from that.
“Being a head coach or manager of any team and club is not easy,” he said. “There are always so many opinions because of the level of interest in this game and what it does to people and how much it means to people.
“I’ve actually, in a perverse way, enjoyed that as well. I think you have to, I think you have to try and find enjoyment in everything and I’ve said to the players, I’ve said to the staff and it counts for us as well as individuals, the amount of growth that can come from this in this difficult period and learning could be huge, it could be brilliant for everyone and myself included.
“So, we just have to keep working, do what we believe in and trust that then the outcome will be positive.”
Martin was speaking as his side prepare for their first Europa League test, when Belgian side Genk visit Ibrox on Thursday.
Rangers have already suffered against Belgian opposition this season, losing 9-1 on aggregate to Club Brugge in Champions League qualifying. Genk, like the Ibrox side, have had a difficult start but Martin says they have a real threat and command respect.
“They had a brilliant season last season, they finished ahead of Club Brugge which I think, having watched Bruges against us and then Monaco last week, if you saw that you realise that that’s not an easy task,” Martin said.
“Obviously they finished in a frustrating way for them but it’s about us, it’s about us being at home, generating the energy we want to, turning it into the game that we want.
“They have some really good players and they’re a good team.
“While they had a good season last season so we’ll be aware of that and we’ll respect that but it has to be about us and building on Saturday and trying to improve.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
