theRangers manager Russell Martin during the Scottish Premiership match between theRangers and Hearts at Ibrox on September 13, 2025. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)
Q: And you know what the scrutiny is like, Russell Martin is going through that just now, how does someone get through something like that?
Brendan Rodgers: “I think being a manager in this modern game, and especially at the high-end clubs and the big pressure clubs, it’s a big challenge. Because all the eyes are on you. It can be a lonely place. The voices of safety are even fewer. There’s hardly any time to breathe. But you have to find a way. You know, I see some of the stuff from during the week when the team went on a team-building exercise. Yeah, every team does that. Like anything in life, it’s timing. You know, in another time if if Russell did that and they had won few games, everyone would be saying what a great idea. You know, you look as a manager for blocks of time where you can. So we had a team-building exercise during the week with the players and the partners and wives and girlfriends. And it was really nice. Thankfully, you guys didn’t get to hear about it. But it happens.
theRangers manager Russell Martin. St Mirren v theRangers, 24 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
“I see the scrutiny that’s on Russell and whatever happens for him, he will be better for it. I have some issues around the moral aspect when I see people commenting on how he’s doing and and not that long ago, they were stood in his shoes or sat on the bench. So I don’t like that when I see a manager being pulled up on certain parts of the game, certain tactics of the game that not so long ago other people couldn’t work that out either. Everything is on him.
“He will be stronger for it. He’s got a bit of experience behind him at 39. I was 39 when I managed Liverpool. So I know exactly what it’s like. You come into the bigger arenas and everything else. But this will make him stronger, and you just have to have that inherent belief in what you’re doing, believe in it and and hopefully then you get the opportunity to come through that.”
Barry Ferguson, theRangers vs Fenerbahçe, Ibrox, Europea League, 13 March 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Q: Is it a bit unfair when guys who have previously been there are commenting?
Brendan Rodgers: “I’ve over 800 games now as a manager, and so I’m always aware and I look to see what other managers will be saying, people who have been in that position, who should know better. And some will say, ‘Well, I’ve got to comment.’ Yeah, but you’ve walked in the shoes. You know, there’s nobody unless you’ve been in the shoes of a manager or a coach, do you really, really understand what that person’s gone through. And if you have been in that position, then you should respect more. You know how tough it is. You know how challenging it is. You know certain things you can’t change that you can’t bring out into the open. So for me, I’ve always found that interesting when managers who are currently in a job are taking a bit of stick from people who, like I say, weren’t that long ago in the job and found it challenging.”
Neil McCann and Kris Boyd. St Mirren v theRangers, 24 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Q: I know it’s such an intense rivalry but would you reach out to Russell at all or wish him all the best or give him encouragement?
Brendan Rodgers: “I spoke to Russell after our game when we played at Ibrox. He’s a good guy. He’s a good man. He was a really good servant for Scotland when he played. He had a fantastic career built around will and desire and and had a really good career, stepped into management, has done well with the clubs that he’s been at and has now taken on, obviously, of course, an opportunity up here to try and transform Rangers. So give him room to breathe. Of course, there’s always a demand. There always will be, at Celtic and Rangers, of course. But there are other people that I struggle to see how they can say the things that they say against a young manager who is trying to make his way in.”
AND HERE’S THE FINAL QUESTION THAT WAS CUT FROM THE MEDIA CONFERENCE VIDEO RELEASED BY CELTIC…
Q: Brendan, picking up on one thing you said in last week’s media conference about the briefing in the media was a cowardly act against you… Have you received any indication of that?
Brendan Rodgers: “It’s done. It’s done.”
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