Previewing Rangers | 2nd August 2025

The Opposition

It’s hard to overstate how much Russell Martin and his staff will want to start with three points. Since stopping Celtic’s ten, Rangers’ domestic story has been one of missed opportunities. European runs have offered prestige, but Celtic have swept up most of the silverware on offer.

Martin was appointed after what must’ve felt like years after Philippe Clement’s sacking, and already the pressure’s on. The Ibrox board will want early proof they’ve chosen the right man. A convincing away win at Fir Park, against a well-drilled Motherwell side, would go some way to building that case.

Rangers were largely hidden in pre-season. One public friendly against Club Brugge, another against Middlesbrough, the rest behind closed doors. But they’ve already been thrust into competitive action. A 2–0 win at Ibrox and 1–1 draw away to Panathinaikos might not have been flawless, but the outcome was exactly what Martin needed.

“We’re five weeks in — normally that would still be pre-season,” Martin said. “There’s been so much change — ownership, leadership, players, playing style — and that can be messy. But the lads have navigated it really well.”

Russell martin’s pre-match conference against motherwell

In other words: it’s still early days, but there’s progress. Their European wins are testament to that. Fatigue might be a factor. But so might rhythm. Playing high-level continental opposition before the league opener should steel them for the task ahead.

Expect Rangers to want more than just a result. They’ll want a performance — something sharp enough to show fans that the rebuild is working. Expect them to control large parts of the game and try to break quickly when space opens. They’ll be ready for a low block, and they’ll have drilled the rotations to try and pull Motherwell out of shape. Expect bookings, too. On Sky Sports, Martin said one thing he regrets about his past teams is that they were too innocent, too naive. He knows that this won’t fly in Scotland, and I fully expect Rangers to try and get in our faces today.

Martin knows what he’s up against. Speaking about Askou, a former teammate at Norwich, he said:

Yeah, he’s a good person. Really professional, thorough, diligent. I bumped into him at the U21 Euros a few years ago — both doing our pro licenses. Just met randomly in Bologna. We swapped numbers, stayed in touch since — just messages, haven’t seen him in person. I know how hard he works, how serious he is. I’m sure he’s carried that into his coaching. He’s done a good job so far. It’ll be good to see him — but better after a win!

Motherwell

Motherwell had a slow start to the summer. The points were on the board in the League Cup, but the performances didn’t exactly inspire. There was a sense of something not quite clicking yet — a squad still learning what the manager wanted from them.

But that began to change as the group progressed. One turning point came in the home match against Morton — the toughest opposition in the group. A commanding 3–0 win showed signs that Askou’s methods were starting to land. The pressing was sharper. The transitions had more intent. The team looked more like a unit.

“We’re in a better place than when we started,” Askou said. “We’re adding quality every week.”

Still, the clearest test came in the fixture, erroneously titled a friendly, against Hertha Berlin. On paper, it was a free hit. In reality, it was a proper examination. Motherwell stayed compact, showed patience, and disrupted Berlin in phases. But the naivety that can come with a developing side was still evident. Against a team like Rangers, those lapses can be punished.

Askou admitted this openly:

“There are some areas we haven’t practiced much, and we’ll be tested in those against Rangers. So we’ll have to be sharp.”

The difference now is that the squad has had time — a full training week, something Askou noted was rare so far this summer. That time has allowed for structure, rhythm, and recovery. He praised how quickly the players have embraced his ideas:

“They’ve been excellent in adapting and growing into that style… Over time we’ll see the benefits — in results, in what the fans see, and in developing value within the squad.”

There’s still work to be done. Askou has been clear that the club aren’t finished in the market:

“We need to add more width, more quality, and more competition… Even though we want to move quickly, we want to get the best players we can.”

But he’s also confident in the group that will take the pitch on Saturday:

“The group is quite harmonic now, and good enough and big enough to take on the first opponent in the league.”

Askou’s message to his squad ahead of this one is likely to be simple: believe in yourself and your team mates.

He’s not interested in fear or survival tactics. Asked directly whether he expects his side to stick to their identity, even against a team like Rangers, his answer was clear:

“We have to do what we’re best at — not fall into fear or abandon our principles.”

That doesn’t mean Motherwell will go gung-ho. Expect them to adapt. The low block will be used where appropriate. But Askou will want his team to be brave — on the ball and off it. He’ll want them to try things. To take space when it opens. To commit bodies forward when the moment is right.

The midfield battle could define large parts of the match. Elliot Watt will likely play a central role for Motherwell — potentially matched up with Nico Raskin, who brings aggression and tempo to Rangers’ engine room. Predicting a Motherwell performance is a bit like pi**ing in the wind: it might be exciting, but you never really know where it’s going to land.

Still, the direction of travel under Askou feels more assured now than it did even a few weeks ago. The players understand what’s being asked. The team is taking shape. The crowd will be up for it.

And Askou knows exactly what kind of energy the occasion demands:

“I hope, and expect, that everyone around us and behind us helps us through those tough moments. That they cheer us on — especially when we need it most.”

Motherwell are under no illusions about the size of the task. But there’s a quiet confidence that they’re ready for it.

“It’s not about me making my mark,” Askou said. “It’s about Motherwell Football Club. About the players. The fans.”