Max Aarons says Rangers pressure is palpable, but no panic stations

Those that are new to Glasgow will perhaps find that situation somewhat baffling. That is life here, though. With each passing season, with each sacked manager and unsuccessful silverware bid, the pressure mounts and the window of tolerance closes.

On Tuesday evening, Ibrox erupted once again. Losing to Club Brugge is, in itself, not a shock. But the anger came from the manner of the defeat and the way in which Martin’s side were beaten.

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The reaction to the concession of three goals inside the first 20 minutes was visceral. Martin should not have been surprised by it given his previous experiences here as a player.

For Max Aarons, this situation is new and perhaps unexpected. The level of pressure, the weight of the demands, certainly are. It is already sink or swim.

“For sure you can feel that,” Aarons said when asked about the pressure from the stands on a night where Brugge deserved to win by a more comfortable margin than the 3-1 lead they will take into the second leg. “There is a lot of frustration from before coming here and you can feel that. I understand it.

“But we are trying to build something here. We are, what, seven games into the season? That is frustrating, but it has to come from us to give them something to grab on to. We are trying to build something, and I believe this team will be successful. I really do believe that. It is not panic stations.

“We go there and put in a real performance and, as I said, I want to be playing Champions League football. I am sure the boys do as well so we will give it everything.

“Obviously the first two goals are disappointing and coming so early in the game I can understand why the fans would be frustrated. Like I said, it is a two-leg game, it is over two sets of 90 plus minutes and having a two goal deficit is not the end of the world.

“We can go there, I believe, and win. We have got so much quality in this team. When the boys play without that pressure and we play freely, I feel we can hurt anyone. There is full belief in myself and the team that we can go and win these games.”

Rangers were roared onto the pitch as the Champions League music reverberated around Ibrox. Within three minutes, the atmosphere was punctured. Within seven, the game was lost. When Brugge scored again after 20 minutes, some started to head for the exits.

The effort from Danilo to reduce the deficit has given Rangers something to cling on to, it allows them the faintest of hopes heading to Brugges next Wednesday evening. In all likelihood, it will be a footnote in the tie and an irrelevance in terms of Champions League qualification.

Aarons pointed to the recovery mission that Brugges launched against Salzburg in the previous round as a source of encouragement. Like Martin, he took comfort from the way that the second 45 minutes played out.

“Obviously some difficult moments in the first half,” Aarons said. “But, listen, they were 2-0 down in the game before this and they came back so… Listen, we know we need to go and take that second half performance there.

“The first two goals were obviously really disappointing. The first two goals were soft. All we can do is continue from there, those type of games if they start getting confidence that can end up… I have been in games before where the second half they just knock the ball around with no pressure.

“We came out in the second half and we did give it everything. That is what we have got to do in the second leg. We can definitely come back, for sure. We have come here and I want to be playing Champions League football. The boys do as well and I will do everything to try and do that.

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“Listen, we are 3-1 down on the night and the beauty of it is that it is a two leg game. We have played four games already to get to this point, five games now, and these challenges are what makes you as a team.”

Before Rangers can worry about what is to come next midweek, Martin must negotiate a trip to Paisley that is fraught with danger. A third successive Premiership match without a victory would see the noise level around the head coach rise even further.

The first Old Firm fixture of the season is on the horizon. It is one that Rangers simply cannot head into any further behind if there is to be a title challenge this term.

“Of course it is a must win,” Aarons said ahead of the St Mirren fixture on Sunday. “Every game for this club is a must win. I fully respect that. This is a huge club, huge demands. That is why I have come here, I want to achieve success.

“Like I said, we are in August. It has to start quickly and we have to go and win at St Mirren, for sure. But in terms of this game and Club Brugge, we can turn this around, for sure.”