Connect with us

English Football League

Leicester’s Russell Martin says criticism he’s received has been ‘really personal’

Leicester’s Russell Martin says criticism he’s received has been ‘really personal’ amid a poor start to the 2026/27 season.

He spoke ahead of his side’s game away at Stockport, with the Foxes 19th in League One, with 5 points and only one win from their 5 games.

In his side’s 4-0 defeat at home to Oxford last weekend, Leicester fans walked out early, calling for Martin to be sacked, others were heard singing “your football it sh*te”.

But on social media, it has got worse with the reaction incredibly over the top, and now users are being called out for what they’ve been saying about him.

Russell Martin said before the game: “It think it has become really personal from some guys in the media and definitely from fans. So it is what it is I have to deal with.

“It doesn’t affect me too much generally but it’s really difficult for the people around me that know me and understand me and know what I am.

“This tag of this tag of, I don’t know, yeah, it’s interesting. Because if people that work with me and know me, it’s very different to the perception outside.

“So I hope these guys, hopefully have found that at Southampton and the players, yeah. If you spoke to the players and people I work with, and people who have never seen it and maybe watched a few clips of certain bits, it’s very different perception and reality.

“But I guess when you try and do something a bit different to some, then it’s always there to be shot at.

“I think after six, seven years, I love what I do and there’s enough feeling from me and the players I work with that it can be really really brilliant at times”

He added: “I think everyone here has handled the change brilliantly by the way, the staff, the players and eventually the outcome I believe because of how much work everyone’s putting in, much they want to be successful, these people in the dressing room now they like, care so much. I think it will pay off.

“But also know it’s not going to be easy so we have to like be so focused on the work and the process and learn all the time and try and improve and improve the process as much as can and these young guys will take off and they’ll be helped by the experienced ones and I believe still we’ll have a really successful season and that’s why I can be really calm in front of you guys and genuinely believe that.”

Foxes Trust sends open letter to Leicester City board amid ‘significant concerns’

Leicester fans vent anger and call for Russell Martin to go after 4-0 defeat to Oxford

Here’s how fans reacted after Leicester’s Russell Martin says criticism he’s received has been ‘really personal’…

@Dr_Gavin_Brewis: Genuinely think people need to be careful while reporting on this guy. A real Jason Arday feel to the hysteria around him at the moment. Pish manager, but I don’t think merits the constant personal attacks on his character and life.

@danohagan: At some point we need to call out the treatment of Russell Martin for what it is – a form of very public bullying. Criticism of a coach is one thing, but when it becomes personal a line has to be drawn. He looks like the weight of the world is on him here.

@JacobHorsfall_: I think Martin 10 years ago would be hailed as one of the best up and coming managers. Sadly, his football probably falls into the bracket of idealism in a world of pragmatism. However, some of the things said about him are 100% OTT

@Rampant_Jack: I do have some sympathy for him. He came to Rangers, did a bad job and got sacked. That’s it, I don’t understand the hate mob that follows him around on social media. He’s gone, our failures aren’t entirely on him, they’re on the football club.

@geemagicjay: As bad as he is as a manager. That’s not what gets him that level of hate. It’s his personality. He’s just very arrogant & constantly shifts blame on others. He constantly gaslights fans & players about anxiety & other issues we all have. When the real issue is him!

@TomHTAFC46: Every single interview hits at least 500k it’s unreal 🤣🤣

@jackmacklfc: Really hope Russell Martin has the right people round him family and friends to get him through an extremely difficult period. Can see it in his eyes how much he is struggling, we all have a responsibility as football fans and media alike analyse a performance but don’t take it to far! For Russell and the Leicester team hopefully they can turn it all around, only together they can do that with the fans.

@BladesBall: It’s pretty baffling how Russell Martin has been treated. He is and was a decent, up-and-coming manager who’s been completely destroyed by the media, punditry and some batshit mental fanbases. Almost every post about him is full of Rangers fans piling on

@fearlessfoxes_: His comments about the media being overly critical are true but I do think he needs to appreciate at MK Dons & Swansea he did very little, Southampton he did bare minimum then struggled to adapt & Rangers was a complete disaster so a lot of this is him not helping himself

Related Topics
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in English Football League