RUSSELL MARTIN says he is excited about where his squad can go as they rounded-off their pre-season preparations with a 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough this afternoon.
With a young starting XI in the first-half, Martin made changes later in the game as the team came from two goals down thanks to goals from Danilo and Findlay Curtis.
The head coach was pleased to see the squad continuing to build and take on feedback from Tuesday evening’s UEFA Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos.
Speaking to RangersTV at full-time, he said: “It has been intense, it has been good. From where the squad were four and a half weeks ago to now, I have been so impressed with their endeavour, their willingness and their work rate. We have a long way to go but I think that is the most exciting bit.
“We have so much we can still improve, so much growth to come but they are really taking on the stuff we are saying, even from the other night.
“I was really pleased, so we have to keep growing, keep pushing the guys and hopefully add a few more to the group in the next few weeks to really strengthen us.
“I am pleased with where we are, but I always want more. I think it is the head coach’s job to always want more but I am excited about where we can go.”
On this afternoon’s match, he continued: “In the first-half there was a lot of frustration with certain things, but also some good moments. We conceded two goals that we shouldn’t have so that needs to be sorted.
“Set-plays are one area of the game where there is no variable, you need to take responsibility, make sure that your man doesn’t score and that you are aggressive so we will look at that.
“We were playing against a good team, an athletic team and they really wanted to press so there were a few mistakes early on and there were guys who haven’t been on the pitch too much, but they needed to get through those.
“In the second-half I really enjoyed it, and I thought the team played really well. They had loads of control, good reaction to losing the ball, hunted the ball really well so it was a really good training game.
“I loved the fact that when we were behind, we don't give up and we don't accept getting beat because of course, we don't want to be behind very much but when we are it needs to be a trait of this team that we never give up.”