Rangers boss left frustrated at 'downbeat' attitude
"They're athletic, they pressed really aggressively, but a lot of the moments that were uncomfortable for us were down to a lack of intensity on our part."And I said to the guys, I didn't like the warm-up, there's a bit of disappointment in a few people, maybe not in the team and all that stuff."But, if you're disappointed and especially playing for this football club, you have to show it in being more aggressive and more intense, not being downbeat and sort of just being out there and letting the game pass you by a little bit. "So they know that now. That can't happen."Similar to midweek against Panathinaikos, Rangers were frustrated for large parts of the first half against the Championship side."It can't be a problem for us that, whenever you step on the pitch for this club and this team, you have to be all in, you have to be," Martin said. "There were some good moments in the first half, but you know, I think the thing to take is, when you're not playing or not in the starting 11 right now - and, by the way, at the start of a very, very long season - we are gonna need everyone."I think that's the lesson is, if you're not gonna play with enough intensity or enough speed or enough aggression, then you'll be put into difficult situations way more than you are if you wanna bring all of those to the party."Martin picked out winger Oscar Cortes and 17-year-old forward Josh Gentles for praise."I've told them that you need to be a bit more like Oscar - run really hard, maybe the end product wasn't quite there today because he hasn't played too much, but effort, endeavour, willingness to run to help your mate," Martin said."Josh Gentles is the same. So that's where you need to be if you want to be part of this in the long term."The head coach was also shown a red card after speaking with referee John Beatton about a first-half incident where he felt his side should have been awarded a penalty."I'm a passionate guy and I probably I probably overstepped the mark," Martin added.
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Scottish Sun
26 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
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