Derek McInnes is facing significant pressure at Ibrox following a dismal start to his Rangers tenure. After failing to secure a win in his first four matches, the manager oversaw a 1-1 draw on Thursday that resulted in a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok, eliminating the club from the Europa League third qualifying round. The atmosphere at Ibrox was tense, with many supporters leaving the stadium well before the final whistle.
This time last season, Rangers made a stumbling start under Russell Martin from which he never recovered, with the axe falling in early October. McInnes, who joined the club with high expectations, acknowledged that the fans’ decision to boo the team off the pitch was justified, citing a lack of quality and confidence within his squad despite nine summer signings.
Reflecting on the performance, McInnes stated, “The club is built for the Champions League and Europa League, but I don’t think the team is ready for it and it pains me to say it.” He emphasized that while Jagiellonia were well-coached and possessed quality, Rangers should have been capable of winning the tie at their best. He described the current struggles as a continuation of the issues from the end of last season, specifically the inability to maintain a high-level performance for the full 90 minutes.
“In the four games we’ve had, there’s been some good moments, but it’s not been good enough and certainly not a strong enough 90-minute performance,” McInnes admitted. “My team go from some good highs in the first half to being as poor as we were in the second half and you have to say we didn’t do enough.”
The manager’s tactical decisions also came under fire. McInnes conceded that Rangers lost control of the game after the break when he replaced Thelo Aasgaard with full-back Ross McCrorie. He argued the Norway midfielder was not getting involved enough and hoped the change would help his wingers become more effective higher up the pitch. However, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday disagreed, stating on Radio Scotland’s Sportsound: “The reasoning makes sense, but it didn’t work, it’s as simple as that. It’s not physical, it’s mental.”
Halliday further criticized the squad balance, suggesting they need at least three more signings. He expressed concern about the lack of leadership and suggested a controversial solution: “It’s not going to be popular, but the first thing Rangers should do in terms of recruitment is phone James Tavernier tomorrow.” He argued the 34-year-old former captain, currently a free agent, possesses the mental fortitude to play under the intense scrutiny of Ibrox.
The club’s injury woes have compounded these issues. Rangers’ Chermiti is out for a significant period, a blow confirmed just two days ago. Meanwhile, the club continues to look toward the transfer market to bolster the squad. PSV winger Driouech was spotted at Ibrox earlier today, ahead of an expected move to the club.
Regarding his own mandate, McInnes remained focused on the long-term objective. “That is the job I came into Rangers to do,” he stated. “Rangers finishing third last season, what was served up wasn’t good enough. We have to get more quality and more confidence into the team.”
The pressure is also mounting on new striker Lawrence Shankland. Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson noted that Shankland is struggling with the weight of expectation at his new club. “It’s the weight of playing for Rangers, the weight of not having the start that he wanted, and the weight of taking a bad touch,” Thompson observed.
The defeat drops Rangers into a Conference League play-off against Czech side Jablonec. The transition from the Champions League aspirations to the Conference League highlights the gap between the club’s current reality and its historical ambitions.
McInnes is now the man who must deliver for an expectant fanbase, but the margin for error is shrinking rapidly. The inability to secure a win in his first four competitive matches has left the manager in a precarious position early in the campaign.
As the transfer window nears its conclusion, the club’s hierarchy faces a critical period to address the imbalance in the squad. Whether through the arrival of players like Driouech or a shift in leadership, the consensus remains that the current output is insufficient for a club of Rangers’ stature.
PSV winger Driouech at Ibrox before expected Rangers move Published 7 hours ago
“They lost all control without that extra body in midfield.”
Thursday’s defeat – which drops Rangers into a Conference League play-off against Czechs Jablonec – comes on the back of the nightmare news Youssef Chermiti was ruled out with a long-term knee injury just after Rangers r
We have to get things moving in the right way quickly.
“The only thing I would challenge about that is I thought [Djeidi] Gassama and [Daisuke] Yokota got loads of the ball relatively high up in the first half.
Thursday’s defeat – which drops Rangers into a Conference League play-off against Czechs Jablonec – comes on the back of the nightmare news Youssef Chermiti was ruled out with a long-term knee injury just after Rangers rejected a big-money bid for the 22-year-old.
It means Rangers have had to set their sights on recruiting a new striker in addition to the wingers and defenders McInnes had already targeted.
He says the club are “working so hard to get the necessary type of players”, with PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech set to be the latest arrival.
Rangers were obviously hoping reuniting McInnes with Lawrence Shankland would be a winning formula after they went so close to wrenching the title away from Celtic while at Hearts last season.
“At previous clubs, if you take a bad touch and give it away, you might get a few pelters.
We are talking about the ability to play under pressure, to not be afraid to make mistakes and try to create a different – that’s James Tavernier.
Spending a fortune and making us much worse.
Jonny: Folk saying McInnes should be sacked need to calm down.
Kris: Has McInnes had a match for Rangers yet where his side haven’t been booed off the park?
Alex: I foresee another trophyless season ahead for Rangers – no cohesion, no fight, no skill, nothing.
In fact, that team would thump this one.
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Get Rangers news notifications in the Sport app Published 18 June 2023
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