Will Russell Martin or Thorsten Fink still be in charge when Rangers face Genk in the Europa League? | OneFootball

In Belgium and Scotland pressure is already beginning to mount on two head coaches. While the season may be relatively new, neither Genk nor Rangers have started their domestic campaigns well. In a weeks time, both sides will face each other in the Europa League opening game. Yet for Russell Martin and Thorsten Fink, that game may be a step to far.

Rangers fans were decidedly mixed about the appointment of Martin as their new manager. Some said he needed time, while others felt he didn’t have what it took to manage one of the biggest clubs in Scotland. So far, the latter appear to have been proven right. Fans of Belgian football had a glimpse of the lack of cohesion between playing squad and manager when Club Brugge demolished the side at home, with Rangers giving up early on and putting in a display that any fanbase would have found disrespectful. Things have not been better domestically. Martin’s side have drawn four and lost one of their league games so far, with that defeat coming at Ibrox last weekend at the hand of Hearts. This weekend they face Hibs in the Scottish League Cup quarter final. It is hard to see how Martin can survive a defeat to Hibs, which means a new man may well be in the dugout when Genk travel to Glasgow.

Fink did a fantastic job last season but ultimately ran out of steam during the play-offs. The side have not looked as fluid this season and in many ways appear too predictable. Last night they lost 1-0 at home to Charleroi, not a great result after they failed to beat the 10 men of Anderlecht at the weekend. Unlike Rangers, Genk have at least won this season, with two wins from their opening seven games. But they have conceded 10 goals and scored nine. Fink will certainly be under pressure, but it does appear that his position is more secure than Martin’s for now. Genk face a tough test at the weekend with unbeaten Union St Gilloise, fresh off of their huge Champions League victory over PSV, coming to visit. A defeat is unlikely to see Fink depart, but stranger things have happened. There may well be two fresh faces in the dugouts when Genk and Rangers meet on the 25th of September.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson