Russell Martin: Rangers players are aiming for night to remember in Panathinaikos test

Rangers head coach Russell Martin says his side are ready for the challenge of facing Panathinaikos in Athens – and will set out to win the game and progress in the Champions League.

A 2-0 win at Ibrox in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round tie has put Rangers in the driving seat but Panathinaikos impressed in Glasgow before being reduced to ten men, and will be a far tougher prospect in front of their own support.

Martin and his players know that even a narrow defeat would be enough for them to progress and face Servette or Viktoria Plzen in the next round, but the manager has no intention of setting out a defensive side and hoping to squeak out a good enough result.

He believes the team will face a tough test and that they will have to be “very, very good” to win, but says the mindset for his Rangers will be to work towards a positive result.

“For me it’s the same situation we found ourselves in before the first game”, he said. “It’s a tough game against a good opponent that we have to be really ready for. And I think we’ll be better than we were last week.

“We have to be. And it’s down to these guys when they step out over the white line to make sure we stick to the work and the detail and really believe in what we’re doing.

“I think in this football club you have to try and win every single game. I think that has to be the mentality of our team.

“I don’t believe in going into something trying to avoid something. We try and work towards something rather than work away from it.

“So we’ll work hard to try and win the game. And we have to be very good, very, very good to do that. I’m looking forward to it.”

Rangers have been warned that the temperature in the Olympic Stadium will be a factor and hand the hosts an advantage but Martin dismissed that and believes pre-season training will have his players equipped to handle the heat.

“I think we had an extremely hot week in St. George’s, where the guys had to work really, really hard and cover a lot of distance,” he said. “So I think that will help prepare us, but it’s the same for both teams.

“We have to manage the game in the best way possible in our way for us. I think the players are ready for it.”

Panathinaikos know that they need to score at least twice to have any hope of carrying on in the competition and will be on the front foot looking for goals from the start. Martin pointed to their attacking outlook at Ibrox last Tuesday as evidence of their threat but also said his side would be prepared for that and have their own approach to focus on.

“I think they did that at home as well,” he said. “They didn’t come to Ibrox trying to defend and get us on the counter-attack.

“They stuck to their game plan with the games that we watched previously. And they weren’t defensive in their mentality or approach or tactically at all.

“We have to bring our own game plan and try and install that as much as we possibly can. The opportunity needs to be one that we create.

“I don’t expect to be given any opportunities. I don’t expect us to give them any.

“So both teams are going to have to work hard to try and create that, however that looks. Maybe it’s on a regain, maybe a counter-attack, maybe a set-piece, maybe it’s by being patient and waiting with the ball.

“So we’ll just have to wait and see but the guys are, I think, really ready. We took a lot so much learning from last Tuesday night and I think we have to make sure we take that into tomorrow.”

For the former MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton boss, who moved to Ibrox in the summer, the first leg was a first taste of managing in European competition. Now he faces his first away test but shrugged off the idea that it would be something on his mind, as he aims to deliver a memorable result and reward the supporters who have made the trip to support their team.

“Honestly, once the game starts, I think it’s the same as any other game,” he said. “So the atmosphere was incredible.

“We have a chance to give the travelling fans and they will be travelling in their numbers everywhere for this football club. We have a chance to give them a night to remember and have a night to remember ourselves, but outside of that, once the game starts, it doesn’t feel any different.

“You’re trying to work out what the problems might be, what the opposition are doing, what their mentality is, what their approaches and trying to find solutions quickly for the players.

“So, I loved the other night and I hope we can have another really positive night tomorrow.”