Home SPORTS Joe Rothwell's Rangers Future in Doubt After Disappointing Start

Joe Rothwell's Rangers Future in Doubt After Disappointing Start

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Joe Rothwell
Joe Rothwell

Rangers face a pivotal week with a Champions League playoff against Club Brugge and an Old Firm derby against Celtic, which could determine their season's trajectory.


“The fans just want the results and we want to give it to them and at the minute it's just not quite going how we want it to go...”


Rangers midfielder Joe Rothwell believes his team is already facing a season-defining period, despite it being early in the season. After a third consecutive 1-1 draw at St. Mirren on Sunday, Rothwell's concerns are understandable, given Rangers' worst start to the Scottish top flight since 1989.


Current Season Stats:

Matches Played: Rothwell has played for Rangers in the UEFA Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos and in the Scottish Premiership match against St. Mirren.

Goals and Assists: Although specific stats for the current season aren't available, Rothwell's past performances show he's capable of contributing to his team's success.


Rothwell's Perspective:

Rothwell's comments highlight the pressure Rangers are under, and the upcoming matches will be crucial in determining their season trajectory. With a tough schedule ahead, Rangers will need to regroup and come up with strategies to secure wins and climb the league table.


Overcoming a Historic Deficit

Aston Villa's manager Russell Martin has had a tough start to his tenure, winning only three of his first nine games in all competitions since being appointed in June. This marks the worst record of any permanent appointment in the club's history. Despite this, Villa will look to mount a dramatic comeback against Club Brugge in the Champions League playoff second leg.


Club Brugge's Form

Club Brugge has shown impressive form, averaging 2.34 goals per match while conceding an average of 1 goal per match. They have a strong passing accuracy of 87% and maintain possession 48% of the time. Aston Villa will need to be at their best to overcome the deficit and advance to the next round.


Head-to-Head Matchup

In a previous encounter between the two teams, Aston Villa won 3-0 against Club Brugge in the Champions League last-16 tie, with goals from Asensio (50', 61') and Maatsen (57'). However, Club Brugge won the first leg of their current playoff matchup 3-1, setting up a challenging task for Aston Villa.


Rangers midfielder Joe Rothwell acknowledges the significance of their upcoming Champions League playoff match against Club Brugge, saying, “Wednesday night is a massive game for us.” A win could boost their confidence heading into the Old Firm derby against Celtic on Sunday. Rothwell emphasizes the importance of turning the tie around, stating, “If we can go there and turn that tie around, then it'll obviously give us massive confidence going into the weekend game.”



Potential Consequences of Loss

A defeat in the Old Firm derby would not only be a significant blow to Rangers' morale but also potentially widen the gap between them and Celtic, who are currently leading the Scottish Premiership. Rangers could fall nine points behind their arch-rivals with a loss, further complicating their title aspirations.



Head-to-Head Statistics

Historically, Celtic has held a slight edge in overall victories against Rangers in the Old Firm derby. However, Rangers have enjoyed periods of dominance, and the rivalry remains one of the most intense and unpredictable in football.


Joe Rothwell, a 30-year-old pre-season signing from Bournemouth, expressed optimism about Rangers' chances, saying, “And then we play that game and who knows where it can take us, if we manage to pick up three points.” This statement comes after Rangers' recent 1-1 draw against St Mirren FC, which extended their unbeaten streak but also highlighted the team's struggles to secure wins.




“It can be a defining week, two massive games in two different competitions and obviously we want to be playing Champions League football.


“That's obviously the aim, so if we can go out there and do that and take the momentum into Sunday and then that hopefully can be a season-defining moment for us.”


Rothwell insisted Rangers “have to believe” that they can mount a title challenge, despite falling behind to St. Mirren in the 33rd minute before teenage substitute Findlay Curtis grabbed the equaliser with his third goal of the season.


Rothwell said: “The fans just want the results and we want to give it to them and at the minute it's just not quite going how we want it to go. Obviously they're entitled to be disappointed, as we expect.


“But we just need them to stick with us and rally together and hopefully then we're not far away from getting the results.”



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