Rangers Suffer 9-1 Champions League Playoff Defeat Amid Manager Criticism

Rangers suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off second leg, resulting in a 9-1 aggregate loss and failure to qualify for the group stage. The match was marred early on by Max Aarons' red card, which compounded Rangers' difficulties, with multiple goals conceded before halftime. Manager Russell Martin faced severe criticism from fans, former players, and even the father of player Nicolas Raskin, who accused Martin of having an "oversized ego" and criticized his team selection and transfer decisions. Despite the backlash and fan calls for Martin's dismissal, the manager stated he retains the support of the club's chief executive and sporting director and urged the team to show character in upcoming matches. Martin admitted the team's lack of cohesion and fighting spirit needs improvement and apologized to traveling fans for the poor performance. The club now prepares for domestic competition, including an upcoming derby against Celtic, aiming to rebuild confidence and unity under Martin's leadership.