'I don't like the word fallen' -

The Rangers manager Russell Martin defended his decision to start two key players on the bench while the Scottish Giants took a significant step towards the Champions League qualifiers with a 3-0 victory against Czech Viktoria Plzen.

Djeidi Gassama put a splint and Cyriel desders sent a penalty while the Rangers reached a third comfortable first stage victory in Ibrox.

But the big news before kick-off was the decision made by Martin, who castigated his players after the 1-1 draw in Motherwell on Saturday, to remove Captain James Tavernier and Nico Raskin from the starting eleven.

However, the decision seemed to bear fruit, Martin’s team producing a dominant display before Pilsen’s return match next week.

And the new boss of the Rangers supported his decision, insisting that he will need everyone in the team to play their role.

“I don’t like the word fell,” Martin told BBC Sport told the match.

“I have already told the guys that you will not be abandoned from the team. We are going to need everyone (in the team). People will go out, we need freshness.

“As a chief coach, you have to do what is best for the team at night. The guys who came have done brilliantly and that’s all you can ask.

“There is a tendency here that a thing becomes a great thing, but it is not at all. Tonight was the best team.

“I don’t think it will be the same week of the same week after the week.”

If the pre-match titles largely concerned the club’s long-standing players, the post-match objective will probably be on the new faces of Ibrox.

Gassama, who signed in Sheffield on Wednesday in summer, has now scored in three consecutive European games, when there was also an exceptional performance by the 23 -year -old beginner, Oliver Antman.

The Finnish young person provided the assistance for the second in Gassama and looked at a constant threat to the right side of the Rangers.

Martin was satisfied with the contribution of his two new signatures, but also praised the whole team for their performance.

“I’m really happy with that (the game),” said Martin.

“I was a little bored by the last 15 minutes because I thought we became a little too sloppy and that we had too much the ball in our own half. But it’s my job to be demanding guys.

“It is really difficult to try to learn a lot of details and apply it with good intensity and good luck, especially after a difficult afternoon on Saturday (against Motherwell). So I’m really proud of the team.”

https://www.101greatgoals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2GKY9B7-2-2.jpg