There's trouble brewing in Plzen... and it will be knives out for Russell Martin if Rangers' domestic woes transfer to the European arena

Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

In a city which features one of the most famous breweries in Europe, Rangers fans arrive in Plzen feeling like their glass may already be half-empty.
Despite the fact they hold a commanding 3-0 lead over Viktoria Plzen following last week's emphatic first-leg victory in Glasgow, the feeling of pessimism among supporters cannot be overstated.
The league campaign is threatening to go down the drain after only two games, with an insipid 1-1 draw with Dundee on Saturday following on from an equally woeful display at Motherwell on the opening weekend.
Taking only two points from the opening two games, Russell Martin has a serious problem on his hands. Hardly the most popular appointment in the first place, whatever goodwill he had is evaporating by mid-August.
With his new-look team toiling so badly on the domestic front, the European campaign now takes on even greater significance for Martin as he and his players look to finish the job tonight in the Czechia.
Rangers have never won before in the country formerly known as the Czech Republic. In seven previous visits here, they have lost four times and scored only two goals.
But they need not concern themselves with matters of the past. The reality is that they don't need to win in Plzen tonight. They have already put themselves in pole position thanks to their efforts last week.
The fact they hold such a handsome lead will bring a level of intrigue as to how Martin sets his team out. Does he ask them to be streetwise and defensively sound, or will he continue asking his players to dominate the ball?
Towards the end of last week's game in Glasgow, it was noticeable just how much higher Plzen were pressing Rangers — and having a fair amount of joy in doing do — in the second half as opposed to the first half.
If Rangers were to concede an early goal tonight and start taking needless risks at the back, the knives that some fans have sharpened for the new manager would be out in force.
When Martin took the job a couple of months ago at time when the club was going through some major structural changes under new ownership, there was a feeling that the European games would come too soon.
Such was the huge turnover of players and new faces to be bedded into the squad, there was almost an acceptance that the Champions League qualifiers would bring some early pain under Martin.
Going up against inferior opponents deploying a low block, it would be the domestic scene in Scotland which would prove more fruitful to Martin's brand of ultra-heavy possession-based football. That was the theory, at least.
Yet, in reality, the opposite has been true. Rangers have one foot in the play-off round, with a potential tie against Club Brugge or Red Bull Salzburg to come, whilst they have yet to fire a shot domestically.
That Rangers have something of a split personality between their domestic form and their continental exploits is not a revelation. It has plagued previous occupants of the Ibrox dugout in recent years.
But with some fans already beginning to turn against him even at such an early juncture, Europe already looks like it might be Martin's saving grace and his best chance of getting some credit in the bank.
If he can go on to secure Champions League football — and nobody would be foolish to believe Brugge or Salzburg represents anything but tough opposition — it would be a major feather in his cap.
However, if Rangers were to falter and drop back into the Europa League, Martin's critics would only grow louder and stronger in number.
That may seem harsh for a guy who is only five minutes in the door, but that's the reality of what happens when a club appoint a manager whom very few fans wanted.
Patience is already wearing thin among some supporters with regards to Martin's team selection. The manager continues to back guys like Kieran Dowell despite it being obvious long ago that he is patently not at the level required of a Rangers player.
Martin says that he wants to give players a clean slate and a chance to prove themselves. But, in the case of Dowell, Danilo and certain others, you simply can't ignore the body of evidence against them.
More curious is Martin's deployment of Nico Raskin. Benched for the last two games, concern is growing among fans that the Belgian midfielder may become restless and unsettled.
Still the subject of interest from across the continent, and with a price tag of between £15m-£20m on his head, Martin explained last night how Raskin's head had been turned during the summer.
Whilst praising him for since regathering his focus, his integration into the same team as Joe Rothwell still looks to be a slightly awkward business.
Raskin is at his best when he is playing as the single pivot at the base of midfield, the position which Rothwell has occupied since his arrival in the summer.
Whether or not they can both play in the same midfield long-term, only time will tell. But Martin was adamant that the club's intention is to keep Raskin beyond the end of the summer transfer window.
Plzen has been a picture of baking-hot sunshine over the past couple of days. With so much at stake, and with the need for results now so pointed, Rangers dare not melt under pressure tonight.
The expectation from the Czechs is that they will make a fast start and seek to put Martin's new-look side under the cosh, something they failed to do until they were 3-0 down last week.
In the previous round, Plzen were 2-0 down on aggregate before clicking into gear and beating Servette away in Switzerland.
They are no mugs, but nor are they world beaters. Only last year, Hearts lost 1-0 here in a Europa League qualifier which saw them blow several good chances.
The reality for Rangers is that they don't need to go chasing this game. They don't need a bucketload of chances or to dominate possession.
What they and Martin need is a professional, polished performance to secure their place in the play-off round. If they can do that, the new manager buys himself some breathing space.
However, if the unthinkable were to happen and Rangers were to somehow blow it, it won't just be the local brewery here in Plzen that's calling last orders.