Russell Martin stated his Rangers players displayed a "mentality problem" in their draw against Motherwell as he admitted his side were fortunate to take a point.
[[Rangers]] had been ahead at Fir Park at the interval through a James Tavernier header. But [[Motherwell]] dominated the second half with Emmanuel Longelo netting a late leveller.
Martin pulled no punches in his post-match interview on Sky Sports as he called out some of his players who wanted to "jog around and do what you want to do."
🗣️ “When you just jog around, there’s a big problem” 🗣️ “Some of them have to drop their egos” 🗣️ Dessers “only one we’ve had a bid for” & he works so hard A 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 interview as Russell Martin cites a “mentality problem” at Rangers after their 1-1 draw ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/C5wznNbizZ
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 2, 2025
"We were lucky to get a point," he said, delivering his verdict on the result and performance. "Motherwell played great, we were nowhere near where we need to be and I'm extremely disappointed and hurt by that.
"They were braver than us, they were more aggressive than us.
"I have said to the players and been really honest with them and I'll be honest with you guys because it is what the supporters of this club deserve...
"There is a default at this football club and it is not one person's fault at all, the default is to revert to type when it is going really well everyone is all in, it is really good.
"When it is not going well you protect yourself a little bit and self-preservation stuff.
"You can't play for this club and enjoy the really good moments and then when it gets tough, 'Oh I'm not sure'.
"You have to be all in all the time. We had too many on the pitch today that wanted to do what they wanted to do.
"If you are playing with real intensity and courage in the position that we coach you in, no problem. When you just want to jog around and do what you want to do, there's a big problem.
"Some of them have to drop their ego.
"I will look at us tactically and accept my responsibility in it but today is not really tactical, it's a mentality problem.
"We got more than what we deserved, actually."
Quizzed on how to fix the mentality matter, he added: "Well, we work out who really wants to be all in and who doesn't. Lyall Cameron comes in, did great because he listens and wants to run really hard for the team.
"And I said to some of the guys in there, Cyriel is the only one we have actually had a bid for and interest in. And he comes on and he runs so hard, on Wednesday night and today.
"Some of them need to have a look at him and set that example.
"There will be people left behind, if they don't want to come, they will be left behind because they need to understand what playing for this football club will take and what it means and not just when it is having a nice time.
"The European games speak for themselves; they find a way to get up for it. Hopefully, it is down to a bit of information as well and then today the lethargy and all that stuff is not acceptable.
"I am surprised but I am more angry than surprised."
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He continued: "There is no excuse. I know what we are coming into and I understand the fan frustration.
"We are only one game in and it is a work in progress but we need to work out quickly who really wants to listen, who will really fight, who will really run when the going gets tough.
"But Europe is not an excuse, this club demands to play in Europe. We have qualified for that so we are going to be playing in Europe a lot and we are going to have games after European games a lot and we have to manage them much better than today."
Touching on the possibility of the result leading to accelerated transfer business, he said: "We need some help for sure, I don't think that has changed also we need to maximise what we have in the building.
"We haven't had a huge amount of games, some of them played their first 90 minutes on Wednesday but we have to work out quickly who really wants to play properly in the way that we want to."
