Martin explains Rangers XI reasoning as Curtis singled out
🎙️ Russell Martin spoke to @RangersTV ahead of tonight's match at Ibrox.
📺 Watch the match live worldwide on RangersTV | https://t.co/Tm2G4xVYf4 pic.twitter.com/NrupuPnL3y — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 22, 2025
"It comes down to being physically ready," he told Rangers TV.
"We have some guys on the bench who are not ready to start a game yet but can definitely help us from the bench, which is nice.
"I think it is the people who have deserved to play the most over the last four weeks. I think that is what it always comes down to.
"We tried to have as few preconceived ideas about players as we possibly could but we obviously watched a lot of the games last season.
"You try and give everyone a clean slate, and the guys that are starting, I think, is the team that is most ready to win and perform in the way we want to."
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Findlay Curtis is in from the start for Rangers for his first start in the Champions League.
But Martin is confident the youngster will take his opportunity to prove himself in the crucial fixture as he offered a glowing review of the Ibrox talent.
He said: "He has worked incredibly hard. He possesses brilliant athleticism, so every training session he gives everything he has got, which is a prerequisite to be a Rangers player.
"He cares and absolutely loves being here. He is a young man desperate to play for the club, for the team and he has shown real understanding, willingness to learn.
"Some of the stuff he has taken on and his adaptability has been fantastic and I believe he has the mentality and character to play for this club. And he deserves to play."
RANGERS XI: Butland, Tavernier, Aarons, Souttar, Rothwell, Diomande, Dowell, Djiga, Raskin, Curtis, Danilo.
SUBS: Kelly, Cortes, Barron, Dessers, Bajrami, Cameron, Jefte, Gassama, Igamane, Fernandez, Rice, Gentles.
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