Russell Martin tells Rangers boo boys pain comes before change and being two goals down is a second leg 'privilege'
Russell Martin had no problem with Rangers fans booing the team off in their 3-1 loss to Club Brugge - but has pleaded with supporters that the 'precursor to change is pain'.
A nightmare first half in which they shipped three goals in 20 minutes has seen Gers' hopes of reaching the promise land of the Champions League left in tatters ahead of the return leg of their Champions League play-off in Belgium in six days time.
Thousands of furious fans headed for the exits after the visitors raced into a 2-0 goal lead with just seven minutes on the clock, and those who did stay until the end jeered Martin and his players as they departed the pitch, with Danilo's second half goal reducing the scoreline.
And while former Southampton boss Martin understands the fan fury, he reckons Rangers' second half performance has done enough to give those disgruntled punters some hope that they can still progress to Europe's premiere competition.
Speaking to Amazon Prime, he said: "Yes, they are all entitled to their opinion, although I do think we are going to need them so much.
"This club has had a long period - bar one season - where it hasn't been as successful as it wants to be and as aligned as it wants to be.
"So we need to come together. (With) the second half performance, I hope they went away feeling like 'this tie is not over' and that the team wants to run and fight for them and for each other. The team is going to need them.
"The precursor to change is pain unfortunately. I knew coming here that there was going to be some pain early on.
"We have to make sure that pain is really worth it. We had some big pain tonight in the first half but the player's response has given me nothing and energy about what is to come.
"So we all grew together through this but we have to grow together as a club. We need to give the supporters more moments like we did in the second half to really make them feel good about what is to come. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and they are the most important people at the club but we are going to need them.
Martin also insists Danilo's consolation has kept the tie very much alive.
"I think that goal changes everything", he added. "I think it's a really precarious position. We have been in front by two goals or three goals and gone away to teams who can just throw caution to the wind.
"We have the beauty and privilege of being in that position now, hunting and chasing. We definitely go into it underdogs so I am going to enjoy that and I think the players will as well."
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