Russell Martin machine guns Rangers flops in astonishing TV blast ego crew called out for reverting to type

Daily Record

5 days ago

The Ibrox boss was fuming at the performance of his side in the 1-1 draw at Motherwell
Raging Russell Martin ripped into his Rangers players in an astonishing post match rant after being held by Motherwell on his Premiership dug-out debut.
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The irate Ibrox boss promised to weed out the slackers in his dressing room and ditch them as he called out the egos within the squad.
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Skipper James Tavernier headed the Light Blues into the lead but Rangers were outplayed by the hosts in the second half - and brutally honest Martin said the Steelmen deserved more than just Emmanuel Longelo's late equaliser.
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Martin's astonishing rant was labelled a machine gun by Record Sport columnist Chris Sutton on Sky Sports duty.
The Gers boss refused to use an energy-sapping midweek Champions League trip to Athens as an excuse in a no holds barred Sky Sports post match interview.
Martin fumed: 'They were braver than us, more aggressive than us. I said to the players, I've been really honest with them and I'll be really honest with you guys because it's what the supporters deserve, there's a default here at this football club and it's not one person's fault at all.
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'The default is to revert to type which is when it's going really well everyone is all in, it's really good and when it's not going well you protect yourself a little bit and it's self preservation stuff.
'You can't play for this club and enjoy the really good times when it's going well and when it's tough say 'Oh, I'm not really sure'.
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'We had too many on the pitch who wanted to do what they wanted to do. So if you are playing with real intensity and courage in your position that we coach you in then no problem but if you want to just jog around and do what you want to do then there's a big problem.
'Some of them have to drop their ego. I will look at us tactically and accept my responsibility in it. But today is not really tactical - it's a mentality problem and we got more than what we deserved, actually.
'We work out who really wants to be all in here and who doesn't. Lyall Cameron came on and did great because he wants to run really hard for the team.
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'I said to some of the guys in there that Cyriel Dessers is the only one we've had a bid for and interest in and he comes on and runs so hard, and the same on Wednesday.
'Some of them need to have a look at him and set that example. There will be people left behind if they don't want to come because they need to really understand what playing for this football club takes and means - and not just when it's having a nice time.
'The European game speaks for itself. They find a way to get up for it. Hopefully it's down to a bit of information as well and today the lethargy and all that stuff is not acceptable. I'm surprised by it but more angry than surprised.
'I know what we're coming into and understand the fans' frustration. We are only one game in and we're a work in progress but we have to work out quickly who really wants to listen and who will really fight and run when the going gets tough but Europe isn't an excuse.
'We're going to have games after European games. We need some help, that's for sure, but also maximise what we have in the building. We haven't had a huge amount of games, some of them had their rest 90 minutes on Wednesday.'