Tuesday night at Ibrox was supposed to be another big European night under the lights. Instead, Rangers imploded in the opening 20 minutes against Club Brugge, leaving themselves with a mountain to climb in next week’s second leg in Belgium. A 3-1 defeat was bad enough, but it was the manner of the collapse that has left fans questioning the mentality, leadership, and structure of this side.
A Nightmare Opening
The first goal set the tone. A complete breakdown in communication between Nasser Djiga and Jack Butland gifted Brugge their opener. It was schoolboy stuff. Djiga hesitated, Butland didn’t command, and the Brugge striker gratefully nipped in to lift the ball over the stranded keeper. At this level, that kind of indecision is unforgivable. One of them simply had to take charge — clear it, play it back, or scream a command — instead they both looked at each other while the striker ran through. A shocking goal to concede.
But if the opener was poor, the reaction was even worse. Brugge’s second came from a corner where Rangers lined up in zonal marking and promptly allowed acres of space to be exploited. The Belgian side didn’t even need to be clever; they just stood in the gaps and were rewarded. Yes, Russell Martin’s setup can be questioned here, but senior players on the pitch must also take responsibility and adapt. Instead, it was passive and naïve.
The third goal was no better — a weak clearance, a half-hearted challenge, and no pressure on the ball. It summed up a first half in which Rangers looked like a team without leaders, without composure, and without belief.
Leadership Nowhere to Be Seen
The lack of leadership in this Rangers side has been widely discussed, but Tuesday made it glaring. Players such as Butland, Souttar, Raskin and Diomande are expected to set the standard, yet in the first half they looked like bystanders. Instead of rallying the team, Rangers resembled headless chickens. On nights like this, strong characters are essential — and they were missing.
Bright Spots Amid the Gloom
There were a couple of positives in the wreckage. Jayden Meghoma, thrown straight into the starting XI just 48 hours after signing on loan from Brentford, made a decent debut. His assist for Danilo’s goal at least gave Rangers a lifeline heading into the second leg. He showed promise, but his lack of experience was clear — and it would be a serious mistake if Rangers don’t add more experience at left-back before the transfer window closes.
Djeidi Gassama was the other bright light. Direct, fearless, and one of the few players who caused Brugge problems, he looked like he belonged at this level. His disallowed goal in the second half was harsh, but that is the rule, and his willingness to take players on was a rare positive in an otherwise flat Rangers display.
A Risky Defensive Gamble
What is perhaps most worrying is how fragile the defence looks beyond just this tie. The backline is built on sand. Aarons, Djiga and Meghoma are all loanees, while Tavernier and Souttar are in the final year of their contracts. Any chemistry or cohesion built this season will likely be dismantled in a matter of months. It’s understandable that loans have been used given the scale of the rebuild, but constructing an entire defence on such short-term deals feels like a major gamble.
Where Do Rangers Go From Here?
Martin will cling to Danilo’s goal as a potential turning point in the tie, and Rangers’ second-half performance at least showed some fight. But to get through in Belgium, this side will need to rediscover defensive organisation, show leadership that was sorely missing at Ibrox, and cut out the self-inflicted chaos that killed them on Tuesday.
For all the investment and turnover of players this summer, Rangers are still crying out for stability, authority, and experience. Without those, European nights like this will only end one way — in bitter disappointment.
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