Rangers New Manager Russell Martin Faces Premiership Opener Pressure

Russell Martin has taken over as Rangers' head coach with a clear mission to transform the team into Scottish Premiership title contenders. Early in his tenure, Martin has overseen a revamped squad, including eight new signings, and led Rangers to a 3-1 aggregate victory over Panathinaikos in the Champions League qualifiers, though the performances have drawn mixed reactions with concerns about defensive vulnerabilities. Despite these criticisms, Martin remains focused on building consistency and implementing his expansive style of play, acknowledging that success in the league is the ultimate measure of progress. His experience in English football and previous connection to Rangers as a player are seen as assets in managing the pressures unique to Scottish football. Rangers face the challenge of starting strong in the league after failing to recover from early dropped points in previous seasons. As the Premiership campaign begins, Martin's ability to fine-tune his squad and maintain composure under pressure will be critical to meeting the high expectations of the Ibrox faithful.