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Russell Martin Blasts Rangers After Humiliating First-Half Collapse Against Club Brugge
Rangers endured a nightmare evening in Belgium as they were torn apart by Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg. At half-time, the scoreline read a shocking 5-0 in favor of the Belgian giants, taking the aggregate score to a humiliating 8-1 against the Scottish side.
The Ibrox club came into the clash already trailing 3-1 from the first leg, but hopes of a dramatic comeback were completely extinguished within the opening 45 minutes. Club Brugge struck with ruthless efficiency, exploiting Rangers’ defensive frailties and punishing every mistake.
By the half-time whistle, the contest looked all but over, and Rangers fans inside the Jan Breydel Stadium were left stunned by the collapse of their team on the biggest stage.
After the whistle, Rangers head coach Russell Martin could not hide his frustration, delivering a scathing assessment of his team’s performance.
> “What we saw out there was unacceptable,” Martin fumed. “This is the Champions League play-offs, not a friendly. The players have let themselves, the club, and our supporters down. There was no fight, no discipline, and no leadership in that first half. conceding five goals in 45 minutes at this level is embarrassing.”
The manager, who had spoken before the game about belief and resilience, admitted that his side looked overwhelmed by Brugge’s intensity and quality.
> “We worked all week on a plan, but the players simply didn’t execute it. We lost our shape, we lost our discipline, and we allowed Brugge to dictate everything. That cannot happen at this level. The badge on this shirt deserves far more respect than what we’ve shown tonight.”
The defeat all but ends Rangers’ Champions League hopes for the season, with only a miracle in the second half capable of salvaging pride, let alone progression.
The Scottish giants will now likely drop into the UEFA Europa League, but Martin warned that drastic improvement is needed if the team is to avoid further embarrassment.
> “We have to look in the mirror, every one of us. If we approach European football like that again, it will be a very long and painful campaign.”
As the second half loomed, Rangers fans braced themselves for further damage, while Club Brugge eyed a statement victory to secure their place in the Champions League group stages.
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