Latest news with #Panathinaikos
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Rangers squad 'will look different' come Panathinaikos clash
Russell Martin believes his Rangers squad will "look different" by the time he takes charge of his first game next Ibrox defender Martin kicks off his tenure against Greek side Panathinaikos in the Champions League second qualifying round, with the first leg on 22-23 July."I think the squad will look different," the head coach, who has yet to make a signing, told Rangers TV. "We will have some players in by then, so the earlier we can do that, the better, so they become ingrained in what we are trying to build culturally and in terms of performance."The players are back in on Monday, that's the most exciting bit. We will see what they can do, how we are going to have to adapt and tweak to make it really built-in and ready for us, and then the rest will take care of itself."Rangers will kick off their Scottish Premiership campaign against Motherwell - led by Martin's former Norwich City team-mate Jens Berthel Askou - but the Ibrox boss' main focus for now is on Athens side were the highest ranked of the three unseeded teams in the league path of the Champions League draw."A lot of people said to me it's maybe the toughest draw we could have had, but we have to play against and beat good teams if we want to compete in European football," Martin added."It gives us something to work towards and look at them, but the focus is going to be on us and making sure we are ready to compete against anyone by the time the game comes around."
STV News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- STV News
Martin expects new-look Rangers squad to be in place for Panathinaikos
New Rangers head coach Russell Martin expects a 'different' squad for the Champions League opener against Panathinaikos as he stressed the importance of early signings. Martin will open his Ibrox career against the Greek side in the second qualifying round in the final two weeks of July. 'I think the squad will look different,' he said in a club video. 'We will have some players in by then as well, so the earlier we can do that, the better, so they become ingrained in what we are trying to build culturally and in terms of performance. 'The players are back in on Monday. That's the most exciting bit. We will see what the players can do, how we are going to have to adapt and tweak to make it really built-in and ready for us, and then the rest will take care of itself.' Martin was speaking after the William Hill Premiership fixture announcement handed him a trip to Fir Park to face Jens Berthel Askou's Motherwell side. 'We have a big fixture before that to really focus on and then we can start really preparing for Motherwell and focusing on that,' he said. 'But wherever we go we want to be ourselves, we are going to try and be the team we want to be all the time. 'It's exciting, it's against an old team-mate of mine in Jens. We played together at Norwich many, many moons ago and we have stayed in touch. 'We know him, his character and personality and how he will have his team ready, so it will be tough. 'But they are all tough. We need to focus on ourselves and what we are going to be in the next four or five weeks, and making sure we are really ready to attack every challenge, whether it's the European game before that or the start of the league season.' Panathinaikos were the highest-ranked team in the three unseeded teams in the league path of the draw. Martin said: 'A lot of people said to me it's maybe the toughest draw we could have had but we have to play against and beat good teams if we want to compete in European football. 'It gives us something to work towards and look at them but the focus is going to be on us and making sure we are ready to compete against anyone by the time the game comes around.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Martin expects Souttar to be fit for Panathinaikos tie
Rangers manager Russell Martin expects John Souttar to be fit for the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos after the defender had a "minor operation". Souttar reportedly delayed the hernia surgery so he could feature for Scotland in their end-of-season friendly double-header. The 28-year-old started the defeat by against Iceland and was an unused substitute in the win over Liechtenstien. Advertisement Rangers host Panathinaikos in a second-round qualifier on 22-23 July, with the return leg in Greece the following week. "John made a decision. He had a bit of minor injury, he wanted to go and play because he's desperate to play for his country which I admire," Martin told Sky Sports. "So the plan was here, and everyone was aware of it, to get sorted after that so he has had a minor operation. "We expect him to be fit for the Panathinaikos game so it hasn't really affected preparations." Rangers open the league season with a trip to face Motherwell and Martin said: "It's [a win] really important for us, for the supporters, for the club, but also it's not going to define our season. Advertisement "So we have to make sure that we are ready to perform in the European game before that, we have to make sure we're then ready again to go. "We have a lot of work to do physically and tactically. The players haven't even been in the building yet, they come back on Monday which I'm really excited about, but now we have something to really work towards and it's going to be great." Motherwell's new boss Jens Berthel Askou is a former Norwich City team-mate of Martin. "We've exchanged messages this morning," said Martin. "Knowing Jens and how intense he was about his work as a player and how he is as a person, seriously professional, intelligent, he'll have them very well organised and prepared so we have to make sure we are ready for any challenge."
Scotsman
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Rangers transfers: Russell Martin reveals timeline for 'exciting' new arrivals plus updates on Cyriel Dessers and John Souttar
Head coach expects new faces for Champions League qualifier Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rangers head coach Russell Martin has revealed that he expects new signings to arrive in time for the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos next month. Martin will begin his tenure against the Greek side in the second qualiyfing round of Uefa's elite competition with the first leg at Ibrox on Tuesday, July 22 following by the return in Athens a week later. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The former MK Dons, Swansea, Southampton boss hopes to hit the ground running and expects his cause to be helped by new arrivals ahead of the European showdown. Russell Martin expects Rangers to make new signings before the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group Asked by Sky Sports how many ins and outs he is anticipating this summer, Martin said: "I honestly don't know but I think we'll have a few [in] before the European game, that'll be for sure. Everyone is working extremely hard. The bulk of work over the past week or so has been identifying character and talent that we want in the building that can add to this group and add to us culturally and in terms of performance. I'm excited about the people we're starting to look at, and hopefully will add." Martin expects striker Cyriel Dessers to report back for the start of pre-season training on Monday despite reports linking last season's Scottish Premiership top scorer with a move to AEK Athens. "The updates will come as and when they are actually real," Martin said. "At the minute, I'm expecting hom to return on Monday and I'm looking forward to working with him." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rangers defender John Souttar in action for Scotland during the international friendly against Iceland at Hampden Park on June 6. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group The Rangers boss also confirmed that defender John Souttar will be fit to face Panathaniakos after delaying surgery on a hernia issue until after the Scotland international friendlies.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Martin expects Souttar to be fit for Panathinaikos tie
Rangers manager Russell Martin expects John Souttar to be fit for the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos after the defender had a "minor operation".Souttar reportedly delayed the hernia surgery, external so he could feature for Scotland in their end-of-season friendly double-header. The 28-year-old started the defeat by against Iceland and was an unused substitute in the win over host Panathinaikos in a second-round qualifier on 22-23 July, with the return leg in Greece the following week."John made a decision. He had a bit of minor injury, he wanted to go and play because he's desperate to play for his country which I admire," Martin told Sky Sports."So the plan was here, and everyone was aware of it, to get sorted after that so he has had a minor operation."We expect him to be fit for the Panathinaikos game so it hasn't really affected preparations."Rangers open the league season with a trip to face Motherwell and Martin said: "It's [a win] really important for us, for the supporters, for the club, but also it's not going to define our season."So we have to make sure that we are ready to perform in the European game before that, we have to make sure we're then ready again to go."We have a lot of work to do physically and tactically. The players haven't even been in the building yet, they come back on Monday which I'm really excited about, but now we have something to really work towards and it's going to be great."Motherwell's new boss Jens Berthel Askou is a former Norwich City team-mate of Martin."We've exchanged messages this morning," said Martin."Knowing Jens and how intense he was about his work as a player and how he is as a person, seriously professional, intelligent, he'll have them very well organised and prepared so we have to make sure we are ready for any challenge."
