Rangers approach their Champions League playoff clash with Club Brugge under a cloud of unease. Supporters are torn between the financial and reputational rewards of reaching the group stage and the sobering memory of their last campaign, which ended with zero points and a minus-20 goal difference. The current squad is widely regarded as weaker than that ill-fated 2022–23 side, raising fears of a similar outcome.
For Russell Martin, the stakes could not be higher. His appointment as manager was greeted with skepticism, and early Premiership draws against Dundee and Motherwell have intensified doubts. Many fans had preferred a more glamorous option, while Martin’s insistence on process and patience feels unconvincing to a restless support. His comparisons to Michael Beale’s rhetoric have only added to the cynicism.
The task is made more daunting by the quality of the opposition. Club Brugge, who impressed in Scotland last season, have begun their campaign strongly and possess a blend of power and pace. By contrast, Rangers remain fragile at the back and often guilty of comical defensive lapses. Martin’s tactical style demands bravery in possession and a goalkeeper comfortable playing out, which raises long-term questions over Jack Butland’s role.
Off the pitch, uncertainty clouds the bigger picture. Rangers’ American owners have offered little detail on their long-term vision, while Martin’s reliance on signings from the English market has an air of déjà vu. Previous recruitment in that direction has rarely delivered the step-change needed at Ibrox. His reference to a five-game unbeaten run was widely mocked, given the unconvincing nature of those performances.
There is also the issue of domestic form. Rangers debated postponing a league trip to St Mirren to focus on Europe but quickly backtracked, a move that reinforced perceptions of indecision. The fear of falling significantly behind Celtic in the title race is very real, especially with the Old Firm clash looming at the end of August.
Yet European nights have often brought out the best in Rangers, and victory over Brugge would buy Martin valuable time. Failure, however, would heighten the unrest already simmering within the stands. With little appetite for further managerial upheaval, Martin knows progress in Europe could be the catalyst to shift the narrative in his favour.
