Martin apologizes after Rangers' record European loss

Russell Martin described Rangers' "humiliating and painful" 6-0 defeat at Club Brugge as "probably the toughest night" of his career – yet he remains confident about his future as head coach.

The heavy loss in Belgium intensified scrutiny from the Ibrox faithful, to whom Martin issued a public apology following the record-equalling European defeat. The result sealed a 9-1 aggregate exit from the Champions League play-offs in deeply disappointing fashion.

"To the fans, I have nothing but an apology," Martin stated. "I'm very sorry they had to witness that. It's humiliating and painful. There's disappointment and hurt that they've had to go through that."

He added: "I don't think I've learned anything new tonight – I'm just embarrassed by the defeat. It's probably the toughest night I've had as a head coach. But it doesn't change the fact that I believe we will progress, move forward, and grow."

Here’s a breakdown of how the match unfolded and what lies ahead for Martin and Rangers.

Rangers 'ripped apart' in embarrassing collapse

Martin's team selection raised eyebrows once again, with captain James Tavernier and midfielder Nicolas Raskin both starting on the bench. When asked about Raskin’s omission, Martin explained he wanted to field the "freshest" and "most attacking" side possible.

That plan fell apart within eight minutes. An early goal from Nicolo Tresoldi was quickly followed by a red card for right-back Max Aarons. Martin later described Rangers' start as "madness," adding: "There's so much self-inflicted pain. Our response to disappointment is so poor."

Just eight days after a 3-1 first-leg defeat, Rangers found themselves 5-0 down by halftime and 6-0 behind by the 50th minute. Martin commented after the match: "I don't think we'll be beaten 6-0 again."

Former Rangers striker Billy Dodds summed up the mood, saying on BBC Sportsound: "This could get really embarrassing." As the goals continued, he added: "It's not a nice night to be here and witness this as a Scottish football fan – they're getting ripped apart." By full time, he was "losing the will to find words."

Brugge dominated throughout, ending the match with 32 shots – 26 of which came inside Rangers' 18-yard box. The Belgian side registered 70 touches in Rangers' penalty area, while the visitors failed to record a single one.

Attention now turns to Sunday's Old Firm derby against Celtic. While it offers a chance at redemption, many fans are questioning whether Martin should remain in charge.

The former Southampton manager acknowledged he is working with a squad experiencing "disrupted harmony," but he remains convinced he can turn things around. Although patience among supporters is wearing thin, Martin insists the club's hierarchy "understand this might take time."

He aims to use the "pain and humiliation" as "fuel" for the derby, stating: "The manner of defeat tonight is not acceptable and hurtful. But I have no other choice but to keep working and keep focused."

Martin concluded: "The weight is heavy on the group, and we need to take that off them and move forward. I need to take everything that is thrown at me, and so do the players. It's my responsibility to accept all of it. It won't affect the work we do moving forward."

He also made it clear: "I don't think we need to win on Sunday to secure my job. We need to win to make ourselves feel better, make the fans feel better, and give them a performance they can be proud of."