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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
There was a sense Russell Martin was managing expectations yesterday... he'd surely take any scoreline which gives Rangers hope in Athens, writes John McGarry
The task of clearing these hurdles in late July is tricky at the best of times. Doing so when you are carrying a little lead in your boots doesn't help matters. Strip away the emotion and the sense of occasion that awaits at Ibrox tonight and Russell Martin's first competitive game as Rangers manager promises to be the most challenging of introductions. The overhaul of his squad isn't even close to completion. He has several players who aren't yet fit enough to feature from the off. A pre-season programme that's encompassed just one game in front of supporters and a few bounce matches looks light to the point where this recalibrated side must be in danger of going in a little undercooked. And that's before you come to the opposition. Although Panathinaikos don't start their league season until a couple of weeks after the Scots, they've just returned from a camp in Austria where they faced sides of the calibre of Schalke and Braga. Rui Vitoria's men look ready for this. In contrast, Martin's head will have hit the pillow last night with a great deal to ponder. Cyriel Dessers recently picked up and injury while Hamza Igamane is short of fitness due to a visa issue delaying his return. That's 45 goals from last season watching from the bench at best. Danilo, who's made no appreciable impact since joining from Feyenoord two years ago, would appear to be Martin's only option through the middle. A minor injury will also put Thelo Aasgaard's debut on the back burner. Djeidi Gassama, the seventh signing of the summer, also arrived too late from Sheffield Wednesday to be considered a starter. Of those who are available, Joe Rothwell, Mohamed Diomande, and Nico Raskin should form a solid central midfield, but a lack of natural width is a concern. Only appointed manager on June 5, Martin can hardly be held wholly responsible for his side's lack of readiness for such an important match. He'd surely take any scoreline which gives Rangers hope in Athens. There was certainly a degree of him managing expectations when he weighed up his side's prospects yesterday. While he's seen enough behind the scenes to believe they are good enough to prevail over two legs, he's aware it's asking a lot for it all to click straight away. 'I've been so pleased over the four weeks, but it's not a long time,' he said. 'So, I think tomorrow's going to be a real big test for us to see how far along we are and see how much work we have to do. 'I think that's the most interesting thing for us as a coaching staff, is that tomorrow we will learn a lot about the group, we will learn a lot about how we need to prioritise moving forward over the next few weeks.' On a muggy old day, Martin began his media conference by successfully tackling the air conditioning unit in the media room at Auchenhowie. If only controlling the expectations of supporters was quite as simple. Given little over a month to turn a squad which ended last season trophyless into one capable of winning three Champions League qualifiers on the spin, it's a good thing that the 39-year-old enjoys a challenge. Even a slender victory tonight would set a welcome positive tone at the outset of his tenure. At the very least, his players have to demonstrate that the possession-based football he advocates looks like bearing fruit. 'I think for the team, it will accelerate the learning,' he offered. 'That will improve from tomorrow, whatever happens, there's no doubt about it. 'But I think one of the things that has to come out is that the supporters have to leave feeling positively about their new-look team. 'I think if we can be connected, the whole club, Ibrox, here, the supporters, if this club has that, with that energy, I think it's going to take some stopping.' They are not short on sources of motivation or inspiration. Last week, the visitors' book at the club's training camp was etched with the names of Sir Alex Ferguson, John Greig and Richard Gough. Then, at the weekend, Martin had lunch with a trio of club ambassadors. At the outset of a new era, with so much change in the air, the manager feels there's much to be gained from a fresh group of players hearing from some icons of the past. 'We had two Rangers legends and a legend of the game this week who supports this club and they all had the same conversation with every single one (of the players) about what this club means to them and (the fact that) we have to represent that as much as we can,' he said. 'Then we had John Brown, Lee McCulloch, Ian Durrant at a game and it was great to see them. 'The door is open to people who've had success here. They know what it takes, they know what the club is about, they support the club, they felt what it means to be here and be part of it. 'It's been really nice, the energy around the training ground, seeing some of the players are in awe of these people is brilliant. 'It just reminds you that the players are just human as well, the same as us. They have people they look up to and they aspire to be like. 'And this group will have a chance to create their own history and their own legacy.' While it would be foolhardy to make sweeping judgments on any side on the basis of 90 minutes, much will be revealed tonight about the way Martin plans to go about his business. He does not expect a free pass. He does hope that there's a degree of understanding that this is very much a work in progress. 'It's not all going to be plain sailing,' said the manager. 'There will be some bumpy moments, but we have to make sure that everyone can understand and see what we are trying to achieve and that the team has enough moments that people can feel excited about. 'There will be times for a bit of patience and calm, but the patience needs to come when we have the ball in the opposition half, not near our own goal. 'We're going to need the supporters. They were amazing in the pre-season friendly (against Brugge) in second half and they've been brilliant whenever we've bumped into anyone around the city. I hope they can feel the freshness and the energy in their team tomorrow night.'
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Rangers get 'fairytale' warning as £4m not enough for target
The Israeli striker is on the Ibrox club's shortlist as Russell Martin looks to add firepower having concentrated on defenders, midfielders and wingers so far. With Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane potential leavers in this window, that would exacerbate the need to get forwards in and Turgeman is seen as an option. Read more: Maccabi Tel Aviv are believed to be reluctant to do business, especially as it would be difficult to persuade an overseas replacement to head to Israel given the current situation in the country. Now, their manager Zarko Lazetic has hinted it would take a mega offer to tempt them into selling. And he quoted the £4million previously reported as not being close to the mark. He told Sport 1: "He is a football beast, only a fairytale offer would tempt the club to sell the player. £4million will not be enough."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Martin 'working out ways' for Dessers & Igamane to play together
Can Rangers strikers Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane play together?Russell Martin believes so, with the Ibrox head coach aiming to work out how the duo can feature in the same and Igamane, who have both been linked with moves away this summer, have had disrupted forward Dessers has had an injury problem, while there have been visa issues for Moroccan is now delighted to have the pair included in training with Tuesday's Champions League second-round qualifier first leg against Panathinaikos fast duo are included in Martin's squad for that game, but it remains to be seen whether either of them will be fit to start the match at Ibrox."They are both a little bit behind in terms of fitness," the Rangers boss said."But both are working incredibly hard to get there. I've been enjoying having them on the training pitch properly for a week now."Speaking to Rangers TV, Martin added: "They are both going to be ready to help us, which is really important. We need talent at the top end and goals in the team and both definitely bring that. "We're going to try and work out ways for them to play together at times. It might be one, it might be both, and it's up to us to work out what they can do and what they're comfortable doing."
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers boss Russell Martin makes huge calls on Igamane and Dessers as Champions League squad revealed
GER IN, GER OUT Rangers boss Russell Martin makes huge calls on Igamane and Dessers as Champions League squad revealed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS have officially submitted their squad list for their first Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos. Russell Martin's men will take on the Greek giants next week and the deadline for the final roster was at 11pm last night. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up The Ibrox side revealed the 25-man list this afternoon, with Martin making some huge calls with relation to players that have been the subject of transfer speculation. Both Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane HAVE been included, despite being linked with moves away. But Ben Davies, Ridvan Yilmaz and Robin Propper have all been left OUT. Rabbi Matondo is also absent but he is currently nursing an injury. The Light Blues can still make a maximum of two changes to that list to account for injuries, new signings or departures up to 24 hours before the first game. Rangers Champions League squad: Revealed Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Liam Kelly, Kieran Wright Defenders: Max Aarons, Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez, Leon King, John Souttar, James Tavernier, Jefte Midfielders: Thelo Aasgaard, Nedim Bajrami, Connor Barron, Lyall Cameron, Oscar Cortes, Mohamed Diomande, Kieran Dowell, Robbie Fraser, Djiedi Gassama, Nico Raskin, Joe Rothwell Forwards: Cyriel Dessers, Josh Gentles, Hamza Igamane, Danilo More to follow. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Igamane and Dessers missing as Rangers draw with Barnsley
Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw with Barnsely in a pre-season friendly at St George's Park as forwards Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers were again missing from the had missed last weekend's 2-2 draw with Club Brugge at Ibrox, with Dessers nursing an ankle knock and visa issues preventing Igamane's signings Thelo Aasgaard, Nasser Djiga and Joe Rothwell got their first starts in Russell Martin's side against the Tykes. Danilo scored Rangers' only goal of the game deep into the second half but Barnsley levelled before full-time.
