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Scotsman
28 minutes ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Panathinaikos v Rangers injury news: 11 out of Champions League clash with Russell Martin dealt new blow
Rangers will take a two goal advantage into the second leg of the Champions League second qualifying round as they look to finish the job against Panathinaikos at the Athens Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night (kick-off: 7pm UK time). Goals from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama saw Russell Martin's side secure a vital 2-0 first leg win in last week's clash at Ibrox, but the Greek giants will be looking to avenge the loss in Govan, and turn around the tie in front of a vocal home support in the Greek capital. New signings of Nasser Djiga, Max Aarons and Joe Rothwell are all likely to keep their place in the starting XI, while Danilo is expected to keep his place upfront ahead of Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers after scoring in the 2-2 pre-season friendly draw with Middlesbrough at the weekend. There are doubts over one key midfielder for Rangers though, while the the aforementioned Gassama will be hoping to make his first start for the club following his £2.2million arrival from Sheffield Wednesday this summer, while left-back Jefte will be hoping to nab a first team spot. Ahead of the game at Athens Olympic Stadium, The Scotsman has all the latest team news: 1 . Clinton Nsiala - Rangers - INELIGIBLE The Frenchman is likely to leave Rangers this summer and is surplus to requirements at Ibrox. Not included in the club's Champions League squad, and will play no part in Athens. | Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . Emmanouil Siopis - Panathinaikos - OUT The Greece international midfielder will not be available against Rangers after reportedly suffering a back injury in training over the weekend. | Getty Images Photo Sales 3 . Thelo Aasgaard - Rangers - OUT Missed last week's first leg with an injury, and wasn't included in the squad for the pre-season draw with Middlesbrough at the weekend. The Norwegian international will sit out the game in Athens. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group Photo Sales 4 . Ridvan Yilmaz - Rangers - INELIGIBLE The Turkish defender is said to be 'highly likely' to leave Rangers this season, and has not been included in the squad for the competition, and therefore won't be part of the game in Athens. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group Photo Sales
Scotsman
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Mikey Moore Rangers transfer situation addressed as Russell Martin spells out Panathinaikos plan
Rangers head coach answers questions on links to Spurs teenager Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Russell Martin indicated he would be keen to add Mikey Moore to his squad amid speculation Rangers are poised to sign the Tottenham teenager. The 17-year-old has made 21 appearances for Spurs but their new manager Thomas Frank explained on Tuesday he would like to 'find the right option' for the attacker to get the necessary game time to accelerate his development. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When asked about Moore at his pre-match media briefing on the eve of Wednesday's Champions League qualifier with Panathinaikos in Athens, Gers boss Martin said little to dispel suggestions he is set to move to Ibrox. Rangers head coach Russell Martin during a training session on Tuesday ahead of the trip to Greece. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'I think I've said to you all the way along that as soon as it's done you'll be the first guys to know,' Martin said on Tuesday. 'There's lots of players we like, lots that we're linked to. He's a really good player and if at any point he becomes a Rangers player we will let you know.' Martin has made no effort to downplay the level of transfer activity he expects in his first transfer window in charge as he bids to get his squad to the level he wants. 'I think we still have a few areas we need to strengthen and put a bit more depth in for sure,' said the former Scotland international. 'I think some areas are more obvious than others but I think we're still looking to add to the squad. I keep saying that we will add to the squad but it has to be the right ones and definitely in the right areas.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Martin's plan of attack in Athens The Rangers squad arrived in Athens on Tuesday without summer signing Thelo Aasgaard and striker Hamza Igamane, who have missed out through injury. Gers are aiming to protect a 2-0 advantage in the Olympic Stadium, and Martin has told his players they must be even better in the Greek capital than they were in the home leg. From left: Mohamed Diomande, Nicolas Raskin, Cyriel Dessers and James Tavernier arrive for a Rangers training session on Tuesday. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'For me, it's the same situation we found ourselves in before the first game,' said. 'It's a tough game against a good opponent that we have to be really ready for and I think we'll be better than we were last week, we have to be. 'I think at this football club you have to try and win every single game. I think that has to be the mentality of our team. I don't believe in going into something and trying to avoid something. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We try and work towards something rather than work away from it. We'll work hard to try and win the game and we have to be very, very good to do that. I'm looking forward to it.' Athens has been basking in temperatures in the mid-30s this week and it is forecast to be almost 30C come kick-off time, but Martin is unfazed by such a prospect. 'I think we had an extremely hot week in St George's (at their pre-season base in England) where the guys had to work really, really hard and cover a lot of distance,' he said. 'I think that will help prepare us, but it's the same for both teams. We have to manage the game in the best way possible, in our way, for us, and I think the players are ready for that.
Scotsman
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Rangers injury news vs Panathinaikos: 9 out and 2 doubts as Russell Martin dealt new blow for Athens clash
Rangers will take a two goal advantage into the second leg of the Champions League second qualifying round as they look to finish the job against Panathinaikos at the Athens Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night (kick-off: 7pm UK time). Goals from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama saw Russell Martin's side secure a vital 2-0 first leg win in last week's clash at Ibrox, but the Greek giants will be looking to avenge the loss in Govan, and turn around the tie in front of a vocal home support in the Greek capital. New signings of Nasser Djiga, Max Aarons and Joe Rothwell are all likely to keep their place in the starting XI, while Danilo is expected to keep his place upfront ahead of Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers after scoring in the 2-2 pre-season friendly draw with Middlesbrough at the weekend. There are doubts over one key midfielder for Rangers though, while the the aforementioned Gassama will be hoping to make his first start for the club following his £2.2million arrival from Sheffield Wednesday this summer, while left-back Jefte will be hoping to nab a first team spot. Ahead of the game at Athens Olympic Stadium, The Scotsman has all the latest team news: 1 . Clinton Nsiala - Rangers - INELIGIBLE The Frenchman is likely to leave Rangers this summer and is surplus to requirements at Ibrox. Not included in the club's Champions League squad, and will play no part in Athens. | Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . Emmanouil Siopis - Panathinaikos - OUT The Greece international midfielder will not be available against Rangers after reportedly suffering a back injury in training over the weekend. | Getty Images Photo Sales 3 . Ridvan Yilmaz - Rangers - INELIGIBLE The Turkish defender is said to be 'highly likely' to leave Rangers this season, and has not been included in the squad for the competition, and therefore won't be part of the game in Athens. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group Photo Sales 4 . Rabbi Matondo - Rangers - OUT The Welsh winger isn't included in the squad due to injury, with a summer exit mooted for Matondo this summer. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group Photo Sales
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Scotsman
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Rangers facing unforeseen pressure in Athens as reward of success and cost of failure laid bare
Panathinaikos tie remains in balance but two-goal advantage puts onus on Rangers to qualify Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rangers find themselves unexpectedly burdened by expectation on their travels to Athens this midweek. Manager Russell Martin had previously tried to temper optimism ahead of the first leg of this Champions League second qualifying round tie by insisting it wouldn't be 'season-defining', regardless of the scoreline. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Still in the early stages of a substantial squad refurbishment job, Martin had instead placed the emphasis on the longer term, giving plenty of indication that this work-in-progress he has inherited was not yet ready for a competitive challenge of this nature, even if it has been a while since Panathinaikos belonged among the upper echelons of the European elite. Rangers head coach Russell Martin during a training session ahead of the flight to Greece on Tuesday. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group Had this unsettled Rangers side struggled at Ibrox in the first leg before collapsing in the red-hot furnace of the Olympic Stadium in the return to bow out of the Champions League at the first hurdle, frustration would likely have been fleeting. Rangers have not appeared in the group stage of the competition since 2022 and only the most impatient or blinkered of their supporters would have expected this current crop to have the wherewithal to make it through three demanding qualifying rounds to end that absence. An aggregate defeat to Panathinaikos would allow the Light Blues to drop back to their natural habitat of the Europa League qualifiers and give further ammunition to Martin in his ongoing quest to shake more funds out of the club's new ownership to improve the product on the pitch. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Instead, an exit at this juncture will now be considered far more ignominious than would have been the case when the draw was made. Rangers did toil in the first half of their opening competitive match of the campaign, having cause to thank goalkeeper Jack Butland for shutting out Panathinaikos when the concession of at least one goal looked almost inevitable given the steady flow of traffic towards the Rangers goal. Fortified by that show of resistance and the red card flashed to the visitors' Giorgos Vagiannidis, Rangers belatedly presented themselves as an attacking force and goals from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama delivered a two-goal victory that few would have predicted at the half-time recess. It has changed the dynamic of the tie and placed unforeseen pressure on Rangers to match their defensive fortitude – and good fortune – of the opening period at Ibrox if they are to withstand what will almost certainly be a full-scale Panathinaikos assault in stiflingly hot and uncomfortable conditions. From left: Mohamed Diomande, Nicolas Raskin, Cyriel Dessers and James Tavernier arrive for a Rangers training session on Tuesday. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group Conceding three goals without reply will now be viewed as a capitulation rather than just a one-sided defeat and could also damage morale ahead of the start of the league season and a tricky-looking opener for Rangers away to Motherwell on Saturday evening. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This odyssey to Athens will also place Martin's tactical preference for a possession-based style further under the microscope. A commitment to playing out from the back can work well in a well-drilled team accustomed to playing in such a fashion against a high press but it proved problematic for this Rangers team, still evolving under new management, in the first half last week. Were it not for poor finishing and stellar goalkeeping, it would have proven to be a costly approach. Rangers can expect to find themselves retreating even more in this second leg as Panathinaikos look to rescue the situation and chase the three goals they really ought to have scored in Scotland. Will Martin stick to his guns or adapt to the demands of the occasion? It will be fascinating to find out. Winnable tie awaits Should Rangers survive the inevitable onslaught coming their way to make it through to the third qualifying round, then suddenly the prospect of advancing to the Champions League groups won't seem that unrealistic after all. Assuming Servette can avoid defeat at home to Viktoria Plzen after a narrow win in the Czech Republic in the first leg last week, then Rangers will find themselves with a winnable tie against the Swiss side they defeated at the same stage two years ago. Win that one and they are a play-off tie away from returning to European football's top table for the first time in three years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Even a loss in the third qualifying round will guarantee a berth in the Europa League group stage which ought to have been the realistic target from the very start. Danilo is likely to lead the Rangers attack again in Athens on Wednesday night. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group It says much about the fluid nature of Continental football in the modern era that the challenge that awaits Rangers should they lose to Panathinaikos looks tougher than what awaits them in the top-tier competition. Neither Besiktas nor Shakhtar Donetsk (who won 4-2 in Turkey last week) in the Europa League third qualifying round will be straightforward, with a defeat at that point dropping Rangers into the Conference League play-off round and a third attempt at trying to nail down group stage football in some shape or form. Avoiding a heavy defeat in Athens, then, seems the easiest way to fulfil that ambition and the expectation is that Martin will rely on many of the same players who eked out that victory at Ibrox a week ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Few of the squad's fringe players did enough in the friendly draw with Middlesbrough on Saturday to push themselves into contention, meaning Martin's selection dilemmas will centre on the fitness of individuals such as Hamza Igamane and Thelo Aasgaard who both missed training again on Tuesday morning due to injury.
.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26crop%3D3%3A2%2Csmart%26trim%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
From cockpit to VAR room: how aircraft pilots are helping Scottish referees prepare for new season
SFA head of referees Willie Collum enlists help of aviation experts Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scottish football is no stranger to a pilot project, but Willie Collum and his team of referees have taken that to new heights after getting advice from the aviation industry. Ahead of the new Premiership season this weekend, the SFA head of referees Collum has sought external help as he tries to sharpen the use of video technology ahead of the new league season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There can be no doubt that pilots and the air traffic controllers assisting them face some of the most pressurised situations known to man. And while some football fans may see the fortunes of their team as life and death, those in charge of aircraft often have to take actions that ensure the safety of the public. Collum believes the sessions that his officials had with aviation experts can help them deal with the stresses of a high-profile VAR decision and keeping composure in the heat of the moment. SFA head of referees, Willie Collum, called on the help of aviation experts to train his officials in communicating under pressure ahead of the new Scottish football season. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group / SFA 'We have had aviation experts in, pilots," explained Collum. "They are training pilots as well. They showed us good examples of critical situations, life and death situations. People think football is life and death, but it is not quite the same. But it is an intense environment and we wanted to know how people communicate there. "What we really liked about it was that it showed us that sometimes the VARs are speaking and they are not really asking the right open question. They could be leading the AVAR. But the pilot is not asking the co-pilot questions that he is just going to agree with. You actually see some examples where they physically sit back. We showed a clip from a match in Scotland where the VAR sits back and the AVAR gets in about the screen looking at it. There was lots about communication. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Another key thing was that nobody in a cockpit uses the words 'I think'. It needs to be concrete, it needs to be 'here is what it is actually showing, here is what the outcome is'. Rather than saying it is something that I am thinking, we need it to be more factual.' Communication is key The English FA have also enlisted external help from the aviation industry on the back of contentious moments involving VAR and with Martin Atkinson, a former Premier League referee, now in place at Hampden to help out officials as the nation's VAR manager, Collum believes all the right pieces of the jigsaw are in place. 'In England, there were a couple of high-profile decisions," continued Collum. "There was a lot of debate about the communication after a Spurs game against Liverpool. England was the first to say, 'we need to have a real serious think about what is being said in the room'. It can't just be a run-of-the-mill conversation, we need to be able to use the right phrases, we need to have the right processes'. "What we are using through aviation - and from learning from other countries and what we have learned from our own experiences – is that you need robust processes. We definitely think that in England you can see evidence of that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "In the short time that Martin has been in position, we are already seeing better evidence of that. If you had gone into the VAR room before Martin came in and talked about communication, it would have been really busy with people talking, saying too much. Now, if you go in you would think, 'Something is not working right here because I am not hearing anything. But it is about speaking when you need to speak so that it is relevant. We also know that talking, talking, talking can make people tired. So we don't want our VARs and AVARs being tired.' Scottish FA VAR manager Martin Atkinson. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group Similarities in football and flying In terms of some of the key learnings, Collum elaborated: "Nobody can deny that the pilots adrenaline is pumping and they are fearing, they're frightened, they're worried. It is about keeping calm because you have got a process and you know to follow that process. We want the same. When there are critical, difficult decisions for the VAR to make they have a process there.' It wasn't just a one-way street as pilots and referees gathered in the same room. Some of what Collum and his team are doing was of use to the people more accustomed to using flight instruments than drawing offside lines. 'What was really interesting for us is they actually said that some of our clips would be good to train their pilots," explained Collum. "They were able to see good examples. They were also analysing a lot of clips where they said from a technical point of view they didn't know what the right or the wrong decision was. But what they did say was, 'Could there have been less talk? Could there have been a different approach? Could there have been a more open-ended question to the AVAR?' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "They see a lot of similarities between what is happening in the VAR room and the cockpit. Again it is not life and death, but in football, maybe even in the west of Scotland, it is up there.' Collum won't stop at the aviation industry either. Any help his referees can get externally will be tapped into. 'Martin has come from a police background," he added. "We don't want to go way out there and way wide, but any industry that can help us, we would be keen to use it. I think a few guys were put off flying, but it was a good exercise.'
