Rangers kicked off their pre-season with a 2-2 draw against Club Brugge.
The Rangers Review was in attendance for the first game of 2025/26 - here's what we took away from the match.
Stormy starts, brighter endings
Without any chances in the first 10 minutes, Rangers found themselves two goals down after 13 minutes had been played at Ibrox. The first Brugge goal, scored by forward Romeo Vermany, came moments after a slack Robin Propper pass surrendered possession and conceded a quick attack, the second, fired ruthlessly into the top of the net by Christos Tzolis, dampened the mood on a typically grey Glasgow day.
Even in a friendly with as many caveats as this - new team, new manager, pre-season starting about 20 minutes ago - Ibrox was still grumbling. Had a ball that smacked the post been an inch to the right, or several other decent sightings added a third for the visitors, things would’ve got a little uncomfortable.
Rangers’ chances in the first half were limited. Nico Raskin went close to finishing a neat move on the right created by Findlay Curtis, but little else was fashioned. Five changes at the break included the arrivals of Jack Butland and James Tavernier, with the No.1 far quieter than Liam Kelly had been in the first half.
A better start to the second half ensued when Cortes won a ball back high up the pitch and slotted in Mohamed Diomande to find the net well from range. Danilo also went close to an equaliser and Tavernier found the side netting from a corner. Late on, Curtis defied tired legs to finish a move created by Nedim Bajrami in transition. All in, Martin would've been a far happier man following the 90 minutes than entering the dressing room at the break.
How did Martin’s style fare?
Despite the fact that Martin is yet to take this group on their pre-season camp and so much business stands undone in the window, there was an expectancy pre-match at the product that would be on show. The Rangers Review’s pre-season rule of thumb is you might not be able to learn how well a team will do the following season, but you can identify, to an extent, what they’ll try. It should be said that Club Brugge, a Champions League team last season, represented a tough early test and so the first period showed.
The first 10 minutes featured a few nice moments and discernible differences were here; full-backs moving narrow, wide wingers, a higher defensive line. All optimism was thrown out the window by two early concessions and confidence suffered a little. Even when behind in a friendly Ibrox can be a lonely or intimidating place. With Barron at No.6 instead of Raskin, to some surprise, issues were experienced in the triangle of deepest midfielder and two centre-backs. The danger with playing expansively through the centre is when you lose it, you can be so exposed. One misplaced pass can crumble the deck of cards.
The second period brought a brighter feel, so attached to the fact that, with Tavernier providing a bit more athleticism at centre-back, the rest of the team could sit higher up the pitch. If anything you could feel the difference in intention - frustration from the dugout at rushed passes, attempts to keep the ball from throw-ins, intent to play high up the pitch.
Read more:
-
Rangers confirm signing of Thelo Aasgaard, close to Nasser Djiga loan
-
Max Aarons interview: Inside Martin's first week, briefings from Tav's brother Marcus
Why Rangers badly need centre-backs
If you needed any reminder as to why so much of Rangers’ early transfer efforts have gone into improving options at centre-back the first 12 minutes provided it. Emmanuel Fernandez is already in the door from Peterborough, in a deal that will rise to around £3million, while a move for Nasser Djiga is expected to be completed at the start of next week. Work is ongoing to try and bring Conor Coady north with the club intent on signing three centre-backs to Ibrox over the summer. No Clinton Nsiala in the squad was perhaps telling regarding his future.
Rangers will cover a substantial portion of the Wolves centre-backs wages, months after the 22-year-old moved to the Premier League from Red Star Belgrade for around £10m. That fee itself shows the potential of the 6-foot-4 Burkina Faso international who Martin knows will bring the back line quality on the ball and athleticism off it.
It’s not only the individual defensive quality Rangers must improve, it’s the knock-on effect that stronger athletes in that area will provide the team as two poor moments from Propper showed, attracting the ire of Martin. The first came when the front six pressed Brugge aggressively but a simple ball over the defensive high line simply created the opportunity for a ball into space behind the Dutchman. Moments later Brugge got forward when Vanaken beat Propper again, this time dropping short and creating a gap in the defence that was exposed. Rangers need the mobility to defend man-for-man at the bottom of the pitch in order to press as aggressively as they want to higher up it. That’s why so much focus is going into correcting that area of the squad early.
Tavernier at centre-back, did anyone impress?
There have been plenty of murmurings this summer that Tavernier does want more game time at centre-back, a position that could prolong his career in Glasgow. Especially given that Max Aarons is here to play at right-back. The captain did improve things playing in that position after the break next to Leon King and latterly Fernandez, taking far more ownership than Propper had in the first 45.
Other bright sparks included Nedim Bajrami, who underwhelmed last season but looked comfortable on the right of a midfield three seeing plenty of the ball, creating the equaliser. Cortes created Diomande’s strike and will be sharper for an hour here, while Danilo too earned his first start in a long while. Diomande nearly scored a second from outside the box as the hosts sought an equaliser.
Curtis was a willing runner all day and finished a nice move, with a Bajrami assist, to level the game late on.
Transfer latest, Dessers and Ridvan
Clearly, the two sides that played either half here will not be close to resembling competitive sides fielded by Martin in the upcoming weeks. And a number involved - whether that be Kieran Dowell, Propper, or others - should not be here in September. New arrivals Joe Rothwell and Thelo Aasgaard weren’t even in the squad. The issue at Rangers is that you must effectively have your squad battle-ready a month before the transfer window closes. Time is not just of the essence, it’s effectively against you.
Djiga will become a Rangers player in the coming days on loan from Wolves should the final touches of the deal be completed, ready in time for Champions League qualifiers. Cyriel Dessers, meanwhile, didn’t feature in the squad but was in attendance, seen taking pictures with fans pre-match. It’s understood Rangers have placed a £5m price tag on the Nigerian forward if AEK Athens wants to buy him.
Ridvan’s future will continue to be a talking point after his No.3 shirt was given to Max Aarons. Should Rangers receive a bid this window, having turned down an approach from Besiktas in January, they would not be hard to deal with. The club are surveying targets in that area of the pitch. With the squad travelling south for their pre-season camp next week, expect more busy weeks of ins and outs.
Share