Rangers supervisor Russell Martin defended his resolution to begin two key gamers on the bench because the Scottish giants took a major step in direction of the Champions League play-offs with a 3-0 win over Czech facet Viktoria Plzen.
Djeidi Gassama bagged a brace and Cyriel Dessers dispatched a penalty as Rangers cruised to a cushty third qualifying spherical first-leg victory at Ibrox.
But the massive information earlier than kick-off was the choice taken by Martin, who blasted his gamers following the 1-1 draw at Motherwell on Saturday, to take away captain James Tavernier and Nico Raskin from the beginning eleven.
The resolution appeared to repay, nevertheless, with Martin’s facet producing a dominant show forward of the second leg in Pilsen subsequent week.
And the brand new Rangers boss backed his resolution, insisting he’ll want everybody within the squad to play their half.
“I don’t like the word dropped,” Martin advised BBC Sport after the match.
“I stated to the fellows earlier than that you just don’t get dropped from the crew. We’re going to want everybody [in the squad]. People are going to return out, we want freshness.
“You as head coach must do what’s finest for the crew on the evening. The guys that got here on did brilliantly and that’s all you may ask for.
“There’s an inclination up right here that one factor turns into a giant factor, but it surely’s by no means. Tonight was the very best crew.
“I don’t think it’s going to be the same eleven week in, week out.”
If the pre-match headlines largely involved the membership’s long-serving gamers, the post-game focus will doubtless be on the recent faces at Ibrox.
Gassama, who signed from Sheffield Wednesday in the summertime, has now scored in three consecutive European video games, whereas there was additionally a standout efficiency from 23-year-old debutant Oliver Antman.
The Finnish teen supplied the help for Gassama’s second and regarded a continuing risk down Rangers’ right-hand facet.
Martin was happy by the contribution of his two new signings but additionally praised the entire crew for his or her displaying.
“I’m really happy with a lot of it [the game],” Martin stated.
“I used to be a bit irritated with the final quarter-hour as I believed we bought a bit of too sloppy and had the ball an excessive amount of in our personal half. But it’s my job to be demanding of the fellows.
“It’s really difficult trying to learn a lot of detail and apply it with the right intensity and courage, especially after a tough afternoon on Saturday [against Motherwell]. So I’m really proud of the team.”
