Rangers head coach Russell Martin slams player mentality after draw
Russell Martin criticises his players' effort and egos following a 1-1 opening-day draw at Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.
Watch Motherwell v Rangers highlights
02/08/25
Rangers head coach Russell Martin sharply criticized his players' mentality after a 1-1 draw at Motherwell in their Scottish Premiership opener. He said his team were "lucky to get a point" and accused them of lacking aggression and unity.
Martin's blunt assessment
"I think we were lucky to get a point. We were nowhere near where we need to be. They were braver and more aggressive than us."
"We pick and choose when we want to run hard. Some players slip into self-preservation instead of playing for the team."
"There's a default here to revert to type. When it's not going well, players protect themselves. That has to stop."
"Two men on the pitch just jogged around and did their own thing. They need to drop their egos or be left behind."
"Today it was a mentality problem. We got more than we deserved."
Pundits react
Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson warned: "At the moment there's nothing coming from Rangers; it's quite worrying. I don't see a clear tactic."
Ex-striker Kris Boyd added on Sky Sports: "He's calling them out so early. It's the same mistakes season after season."
Statistics analysis
Motherwell finished with an expected goals (xG) of 2.21 to Rangers' 0.7 and created five big chances to Rangers' one. Across three games this season, Rangers have faced 51 shots and conceded an xG total of 5.58.
Fan views
Bill: It's early, but I doubt this team will challenge for the title. Very poor.
Stevie: Better watch paint dry than Russell Martin's tactics.
George: No style, no direction, no quality.
Graeme: Different manager, same old Rangers.
Sarah: Same old Rangers, can't close out a game.
Martin's frank criticism highlights lingering issues with mentality and unity at Rangers, suggesting a potential shake-up if standards do not improve.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
Explore useful articles in Sports News as of 02-08-2025. The article titled " Rangers head coach Russell Martin slams player mentality after draw " offers in-depth analysis and practical advice in the Sports News field. Each article is carefully crafted by experts to provide maximum value to readers.
The " Rangers head coach Russell Martin slams player mentality after draw " article expands your knowledge in Sports News, keeps you informed about the latest developments, and helps you make well-informed decisions. Each article is based on unique content, ensuring originality and quality.