Russell Martin, after managing Rangers for merely 270 minutes, has already delivered a scathing assessment of his squad following their disappointing 1-1 draw against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership opener.

The Ibrox head coach expressed extreme disappointment, stating his team was “lucky to get a point” and highlighting Motherwell’s superior bravery and aggression on the pitch, a stark contrast to his own players’ performance.

Martin notably lambasted what he described as “two men on the pitch who want to do what they want to do,” directly challenging certain players to “drop their ego” and embrace the collective demands of playing for such a storied club, emphasizing the need for constant commitment, not just in favorable moments.

This early-season outburst follows a concerning trend, marking the third consecutive season Rangers have failed to secure a victory in their opening league fixture, making Martin’s public criticism of his players unprecedented for a new manager at this stage.

The severity of his comments stands in stark contrast to his previous statements, where just days prior, after securing a Champions League qualifying win against Panathinaikos, Martin had expressed immense pride in his team despite acknowledging room for performance improvement.

Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson echoed the concerns, expressing deep worry about the team’s approach, particularly after Motherwell’s merited late equalizer, further questioning the players’ dedication to the Rangers support; while Martin refrained from naming individuals, substitutions of Mohamed Diomande and Danilo, praised replacements, suggested who might be in focus.

Statistical analysis from Opta further underscores the alarming performance, revealing Motherwell created five big chances compared to Rangers’ solitary one, and Martin’s side has faced a staggering 51 shots across just three games this season, indicative of defensive vulnerabilities.

Despite conceding only twice in these three matches, the cumulative expected goals against Rangers stands at a worrying 5.58, suggesting their current defensive record relies heavily on fortune rather than robust play; this early form casts serious doubt on their prospects for a genuine league title challenge.