RUSSELL Martin insists Rangers are ready for the first Old Firm game of the season as they host Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday.
The head coach was speaking to the media at this afternoon’s pre-match press conference and wants to see a response from his side following the midweek defeat to Club Brugge.
He said: “It is all about Sunday, who handles the occasion best, who has done their work, who is prepared, and we have to make sure we focus on ourselves and that we are ready for that.
“There’s no better game to win than this game, it means so much to everyone. It is one of the biggest games in the world and I mean that in terms of interests and how much it means to the people involved.
“That is the brilliant thing about football, after a disappointment in midweek, you have an opportunity to put things right. It is about making sure we do ourselves justice, the players show that they are worth the shirt and that they really want to be here and have the desire to win.”
When asked about the past few days after the midweek match, Martin continued: “We have had a lot of conversations as a group, with individual players and staff. They were all good conversations but now it is time for action.
“We can talk as much as we want, train as well as we want, but now we have to make sure we deliver a performance on Sunday. It is about responding properly. I think there's a huge opportunity to put it right, we are all disappointed and frustrated with the start.
“Supporters, players, all of us are frustrated with things at the moment but as I have said before it is really early on, really early in the league season. We have to make sure we put in a performance and get the result that we want. It is as simple as that and then it gives us something to really build on into the break.”
When asked about the impact recent matches may have had on some of the younger players in the squad, Martin says he is convinced he has the right players in the squad to overcome the difficult challenges.
He said: “I think some players can have a difficult start to their career and I speak to some of the guys who are now classed as legends of the club that had to endure a tough start, a really tough start because they didn't hit the ground running straight away.
“It surprises people the enormity of it because it is so different, it is so unique and the challenge it brings playing for this football club. Until you get here sometimes you don't understand it so some players you have to be patient with, and they have to grow through that difficult period.
“In some of the conversations we had this week, some of the players spoke about their own tough starts here and how you have to really fight and overcome that, and I am convinced we will do that.”
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