Rangers fans turn on Russell Martin after Europa League defeat to Genk

Rangers’ Europa League defeat to Genk turned the spotlight back on Russell Martin, with sections of the support voicing their anger at full time. The result sharpened debate over his selection and game management, and scrutiny around the dugout is intensifying.

Yet the players cannot escape responsibility. Individual errors at key moments, looseness without the ball and a lack of composure in the final third undermined Rangers’ chances. Missed opportunities and lapses in concentration fed Genk’s confidence and sapped Rangers’ belief.

Martin’s approach invites fair questions—about balance between control and threat, the timing of substitutions, and how the team presses and defends transitions. But even the best plan relies on clean execution, and too many basics went missing to mount a convincing European performance.

The path forward demands a united response. Martin must set a clearer template and stick to it, while senior players take ownership of standards on the pitch. With the schedule unforgiving, Rangers need a sharper edge, more intensity without the ball and greater calm in front of goal. The Genk defeat should be a reset, not a defining narrative—if manager and squad meet the moment together.