Rangers endured a night of sheer humiliation at the Jan Breydelstadion as Club Brugge dismantled them 6-0, completing a crushing 9-1 aggregate victory in the Champions League play-off.
The Ibrox side never really stood a chance, suffering an early setback and losing right-back Max Aarons to a red card after just eight minutes.
Fans in the stadium didn’t hold back, chanting for manager Russell Martin to be sacked, while the team’s performance left players and supporters alike reeling from what can only be described as a catastrophic collapse.
Martin Issues Public Apology
After the match, Russell Martin faced the media to apologise for the team’s disastrous showing.
He admitted it was the most embarrassing night of his managerial career but remained defiant, insisting he had no fears about his future at the club.
Despite the calls for his dismissal, Martin revealed that the club’s executives, including chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell, remained “amazingly supportive.”
He stressed that they understood the rebuild might take time and were backing him to navigate the fallout from such a humiliating defeat.
A Night of Pain and Self-Inflicted Wounds
The match quickly spiraled out of control for Rangers. Trailing 5-0 by halftime, the team never recovered.
Martin described it as a night full of “self-inflicted pain,” noting that even with ten men, the performance offered little for fans to be proud of.
“To the fans, I have nothing but an apology. I’m really sorry they had to witness that.
It’s humiliating. It’s really painful,” Martin said.
He acknowledged the frustration and anger of supporters, underlining that he fully understood their disappointment.
Looking Ahead to the Old Firm Clash
While the defeat was crushing, Martin is already focusing on the next challenge: the Old Firm derby against Celtic on Sunday.
He made it clear that a win isn’t about saving his job but about restoring pride for the team and fans alike.
“We need to win to make the fans feel better, to actually give them a performance to be proud of.
So all the focus and energy now goes to that,” he said.
Martin sees the derby as a chance to reconnect with supporters and start rebuilding momentum after the embarrassing loss.
Transfer Uncertainty Adds to the Challenge
Adding to the club’s current turmoil, midfielder Nico Raskin’s future remains uncertain.
Dropped for the Brugge game, Raskin has been linked with a move away this summer.
Martin acknowledged that building a cohesive squad is difficult when some players aren’t fully committed to staying.
“Yeah, I think there are a few of the guys that there’s a bit of uncertainty around at the moment.
It’s really hard to build a team around people who are not convinced or not fully sure they will be here,” Martin said.
Moving Forward
Despite the humiliation, Martin is determined to face the challenges head-on.
He remains committed to improving the team, weathering criticism, and focusing on results that fans can be proud of.
After such a night, rebuilding morale and confidence won’t be easy—but Martin insists it’s still possible.
