Russell Martin apologises to Rangers fans after Club Brugge humiliation

Russell Martin apologised to Rangers fans after the team’s embarrassing 6-0 capitulation against Club Brugge, but believes he can take the team forward., with a focus on winning against Celtic on Sunday.

Rangers had gone into the crucial qualifying match in Belgium aiming to turn around a 3-1 deficit from the first leg at Ibrox to reach the Champions League proper. Instead the side were 1-0 down after five minutes, had Max Aarons sent off after eight, and suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat on the night.

The result leaves Martin with the worst record of any new Rangers manager, and just three wins from ten matches so far. Travelling fans in the Jan Breydelstadion called for him to go as they saw the team ruthlessly exposed by Club Brugges, and he apologised to them for the performance they witnessed.

“To the fans, I have nothing but an apology,” the head coach said. “I’m really sorry that they had to witness that, it’s humiliating and it’s really painful.

“So I’ve nothing but disappointment and hurt that they’ve had to go through that.

“The most hurtful thing is we made it so tough for ourselves. We did it last Tuesday, we did it tonight.

“So much self-inflicted pain. And then our response, because we’re not strong enough as a group yet, our response to a bit of disappointment is just so poor. So poor.

“So I understand the fans’ frustration. I understand the disappointment. I understand their anger because they love this club and they want to see a team that they’re proud of.

“Even with ten men, there wasn’t enough to be proud of last night. There was nothing to be proud of.”

Despite his record so far, and the humiliating nature of what was one of the club’s worst European results, when asked if he had concerns over his job if the form was to continue, Martin shrugged off the question about his own position.

“I don’t think we’re going to get beat 6-0 again,” he said. “So in terms of if what was to continue?

“We qualified for the Europa League under really difficult circumstances. So tonight was going to be tough.

“I completely agree that the manner of defeat is not acceptable and really hurtful. But I have no other choice but to keep working and to keep focusing on what’s going to help us moving forward.

“The weight of it all at the moment is heavy on the group and we have to try and take it off and free them up for Sunday.”

The former MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton boss said that he had endured the toughest night of his coaching career but believes he can still “get the team going” and said that the team has to “show some character, some growth and some personality” when they face Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday.

Martin believes a positive result in that game can help to change the mood, and he is convinced that he can still win around a support that has become increasingly hostile during his short time in charge.

“Yeah, by winning football matches,” he said. “When it’s got to that point before, maybe there’s been changes and the club’s changed too much, or performances haven’t improved that much or changed too much.

“So, I understand it.

“As I said, I have no… I’m not going to sit here and try and explain in real detail tonight. I have to take everything that’s thrown at me, and so do the players, so do the group.

“But it’s my responsibility for the team, so I have to accept all of it. But one thing will work when we do move it forward and to get ready for Sunday, because that has to be the focus now.”