Rangers exit Europa League at Ibrox extends Derek McInnes's poor start to four games
Rangers, managed by Derek McInnes, were eliminated at Ibrox in Thursday's Europa League third qualifying round tie with Jagiellonia Bialystok, a result that extended McInnes's run of poor results to four games. Many home supporters left the stadium before the final whistle as the Ibrox side failed to find a late equaliser that could have taken the tie to extra time.
Derek McInnes had hoped to repeat his success with Hearts last season, but, barring caretakers, he had already made the worst start of any Rangers manager after three games and that run has now stretched to four. This time last season, Rangers made a stumbling start under Russell Martin from which he never recovered, with the axe falling in early October. The club finished third last season, a standing McInnes referenced as part of the context for summer change.
After the defeat McInnes said: "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. We need to get more quality, we need to get more confidence into the team. That is the job I came into Rangers to do. Rangers finishing third last season, what was served up wasn't good enough. We have to get things moving in the right way quickly. Jagiellonia are a decent team with some good players and I think they're well coached, but Rangers at their best should be winning this."
McInnes described the team's inability to sustain performance over 90 minutes and accepted the crowd's reaction, saying: "I think it was justified, to be honest. What we served up in the second half was not good enough. 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. It is not great to watch. 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." He also conceded Rangers lost control after he substituted Thelo Aasgaard for Ross McCrorie and altered the formation, adding Aasgaard was "not getting involved enough" and that the change would help his wingers become "more involved higher up the pitch".
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday criticised the tactical change and midfield control, saying: "The reasoning makes sense, but it didn't work, it's as simple as that. 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. They lost all control without that extra body in midfield." Halliday also expressed concern about recruitment balance, saying the squad "shouldn't be that imbalanced this late into the transfer window" and listing the needs as "three centre-halves, one left-back, two, arguably, three wingers".
The Europa League defeat drops Rangers into a Conference League play-off against Czech side Jablonec and arrived shortly after the club received the double blow of Youssef Chermiti being ruled out with a long-term knee injury just after Rangers rejected a big-money bid for the 22-year-old. McInnes said 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.
Discussion around leadership and pressure on players featured in post-match commentary. Former striker Steven Thompson said of new captain Lawrence Shankland: "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. At previous clubs, if you take a bad touch and give it away, you might get a few pelters. Here tonight, when Lawrence Shankland's link-up play wasn't that good or he should've had a shot when he didn't, they are on you and it is going to take him a bit to get used to that I think. It's not physical, it's mental." Andy Halliday urged a return for former captain James Tavernier, saying: "It's not going to be popular, but the first thing Rangers should do in terms of recruitment is phone James Tavernier tomorrow. He's an upgrade straight away. 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. Everybody's talking about this new leadership group and new character - and to me it's the ability to play under that scrutiny. He never hid from that scrutiny." Fans' posted reactions included: "Simon: I wanted to give a manager time, but I'd cut my losses and get rid of McInnes now. Never thought he was the man for this job - and he's proving me right, big time. Spending a fortune and making us much worse." "Alan: No more excuses. McInnes is proving that he is not up to the job." "Jonny: Folk saying McInnes should be sacked need to calm down. Look at the squad. Who would do well with it? Give the man time. He'll sort us in time." "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. Rangers are woeful." "Kevin: Rangers look as a bad as they did under Mark Warburton in the Championship. In fact, that team would thump this one."
Thursday's loss therefore sends Rangers into a Conference League play-off against Jablonec, with the club continuing transfer activity to address injuries and perceived squad shortcomings ahead of that next European tie.
