Nico Raskin breaks silence on return to squad and fall out with Russell Martin and reacts to Rangers fans’…
Nico Raskin breaks silence on return to squad and fall out with Russell Martin and reacts to Rangers fans’…
They put their differences to one side for the game
“FINALLY.”
Nico Raskin’s short but sweet immediate response to being recalled to the Rangers first team under boss Russell Martin.
A young man in a blue jersey with a white collar, sitting in front of a wall with multiple sports logos.
Nico Raskin broke his silence on being axed from the Rangers squadCredit: PREMIER SPORTS TV
Raskin was man of the match against HibsCredit: Willie Vass
Rangers manager Russell Martin and Rangers’ Nicolas Raskin during the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final match.
He was subbed off to a standing ovation from the fansCredit: PA
The Belgian midfielder was axed from the squad by Martin on the eve of the transfer window closing just before the game against Celtic at the end of last month.
It was a move backed by senior players and it looked for all intents and purposes that the 24-year-old had no future at Ibrox.
But fast forward three weeks and he played like like the man who could SAVE Martin’s job.
Raskin was man of the match in the Light Blues’ 2-0 win over Hibs that saw them progress to the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup
And when asked how it felt to be back playing, Raskin couldn’t hide his delight.
His response of “finally” seemed to be said more in relief than resentment, and he insists he doesn’t want to focus on the past now that he and Martin have started to make amends.
In an interview with Premier Sports, he said: “Well, it is in the past now. We have to move forward.
“We have put in a good performance in on the pitch, we have to look forward and build on that.
“Everything has not been perfect. I did not enjoy part of it, I think the manager didn’t enjoy part of it and now we had a good chat and well, hopefully we can just work together and have a good spell together and look forward.
“There are things that happen in football. We are an emotional club, an emotional team, so I just want to win. We just want to give back to the fans what they give to us.
Rangers boss Russell Martin on fan protests and wild swimming as he provides Nico Raskin update
“I think the support I had was amazing. For someone who was not born here, it just feels amazing.
“When I go on the pitch I try and give everything for my team-mates and for the fans and just try to with every game now.
“What is in the past is in the past, now we look forward.
“It’s not about me or the manager.
“It is about the team, about the club and how we go forward and how we win games.
“The season is still very long, we have loads of things to play for so, listen, I think if we can go through this tough time as a team, as a club we will only get better.
“Now, we just have to keep our head down, work hard in training and then hopefully we can keep winning games.”
RUSSELL MARTINS RESPONSE TO FANS PROTEST IS THE SADDEST THING ON THE INTERNET TODAY
# Russell Martin’s Response to Fans’ Protest: The Saddest Thing on the Internet Today
In the unforgiving world of Scottish football, few moments capture the raw agony of managerial pressure like Russell Martin’s pre-match interview amid the chaos of fan protests. On September 20, 2025, as Rangers supporters unleashed their fury outside Ibrox ahead of the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Hibernian, the air crackled with chants of “Russell Martin, get out of our club” and worse. Thousands gathered, led by the Union Bears ultras, hurling abuse and, in a surreal twist, tossing bouncy balls onto the pitch to halt play—a childish yet cutting symbol of their despair. This wasn’t mere discontent; it was a full-throated rejection of a season careening toward Rangers’ worst league start in decades.
Martin, the Welsh tactician who arrived in the summer with visions of possession-based flair from his Southampton tenure, now teetered on the brink of a tidal wave of vitriol. The Rangers Supporters Association lambasted the club’s “inaction” as “damaging,” demanding his sacking alongside CEO Patrick Stewart. Pre-match scenes descended into anarchy: fans clapping to anti-Martin anthems, forcing players to retreat to the dressing room amid the din. Pundits echoed the gloom: “The Rangers fans have had enough… There’s no way back.”
Then came Martin’s response—a presser that pierced the soul and lit up social media like a funeral pyre. Visibly shattered, eyes hollowed by exhaustion, he whispered, “I get it. I understand why they’re angry. But it hurts, you know? We’re trying everything.” His voice fractured as he confessed, “I’ve never felt this low. The fans built me up, and now… this.” No bluster, no deflection—just a man staring into the void of failure, microphone trembling in his grip. Clips exploded online, racking up millions of views, with users crowning it “the saddest man alive.” One viral post quipped: “Russell Martin looking like he just lost his childhood pet. Brutal.”
Yet, in football’s cruel theater, redemption flickered. Against the odds, Rangers triumphed 2-0 over Hibs, with Nico Raskin inspiring a gritty performance that booked a semi-final spot. The boos morphed into tentative cheers, bouncy balls forgotten in the glow of victory. Martin’s raw vulnerability—humanizing the toll of Ibrox’s demands—now feels like a prelude to resilience. Once hailed for transforming Swansea and Southampton, he’s no longer just a scapegoat; he’s a fighter clawing back from the abyss. “I love this club,” he had murmured, battling tears. “But if they want me gone, I’ll go.”
As the semi-final looms, the question burns: Was this Martin’s nadir or his rebirth? For now, his quiet unraveling remains the internet’s most poignant tragedy—a reminder that football doesn’t just break its heroes; it tests if they’ll rise from the shards.
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