Derek McInnes has been quick to point out that Rangers are "not as bad as some people think" even though his tenure at Ibrox has begun with a string of disappointing results. The former Aberdeen manager endured a painful home debut as the club’s head coach when his side fell 2-1 to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, a match that also saw promising striker Youssef Chermiti forced off the pitch on a stretcher after sustaining a knee injury.
At the time of the game, Celtic and St Mirren were both sitting on six points after two league fixtures, while Rangers found themselves five points adrift and already in pursuit of the leaders. McInnes, now in his third match in the Ibrox hot seat, was desperate for his first victory and used the post‑match interview with Sky Sports to stress that the narrative surrounding the club was overly negative. "We’re not as bad as some people will be saying at the minute," McInnes told the broadcaster. "It’s important that we batten down the hatches, stay strong and stay together.
We want to finish this window on a high note and we will. Right now we’re managing the situation – some players aren’t fully fit yet, but we need to get them playing so they can regain fitness." He went on to acknowledge the impact of Chermiti’s injury, describing it as "far from ideal" but insisting the squad would work to develop a rhythm and a connection that could turn matches in their favour. "We didn’t start the way we wanted, but we still plan to get the finish and the outcome that we want and we’ll work towards that," he added. The match itself began with Hibs taking the lead in the 11th minute after a penalty was awarded to Josh Campbell.
The decision came after VAR flagged a foul by Vanja Dragojevic – making his first start for Rangers after arriving from Partizan Belgrade – on Hibernian defender Jason Kerr inside the box. McInnes was quick to criticize the decision, calling it a "wrong decision that made us go behind in the first place" and later stating, "I don’t think it was a penalty kick. The referee shouldn’t have been brought over." Despite the early setback, McInnes felt there were positive moments in the first half, even if the overall play was "a bit slow and a bit pedestrian at times." He praised his team's resilience, noting that Hibs had a shape that forced Rangers to fight hard for space, but also highlighting that his side created several good chances. "I still thought we had some good moments.
Obviously there’s a blow to Youssef going off which is far from ideal, particularly for him and us, and there’s a little adjustment there," he said. In the second half, McInnes believed the substitutes had made a difference, and he felt Rangers were the dominant side for much of the game. "I thought we were the team that was always looking more likely to score. In the last 25 minutes or so, I thought the subs helped.
We were by far the dominant team. I thought we were the better team and sometimes, in fact, we don’t always get what we deserve but nobody will tell me any differently," he asserted. He continued, "We were the better team.
We weren’t great but we were better than Hibs and I think it was harsh on my players to be on the losing side. But we keep going. I was delighted with the effort of the players, delighted with how they kept going to try and get a win. That's how we want to play and I didn’t see that second goal coming." McInnes also expressed frustration with the way both goals were conceded, describing the penalty and a slight deflection that led to the winning goal as "really harsh on us." He emphasized the need for his squad to dig deep and bounce back, calling the defeat a "tough way to lose it." The injury to Chermiti added another layer of concern.
The 22‑year‑old forward, who had been the subject of a reported £22 million bid from Galatasaray – a figure that would have set a new club record – was forced to leave the field after picking up a knee problem. Ibrox officials are reportedly keen to retain the striker this summer, valuing him higher than the £19.6 million fee received for Calvin Bassey’s transfer to Ajax in 2023. Chermiti arrived in Glasgow last summer on a deal that could rise to £10 million and contributed 15 goals along with five assists across all competitions in his debut season.
McInnes praised the club’s decision to reject the Galatasaray offer, saying, "I think the fact that the club rejected such a big number would suggest how important he is to us, so we’re delighted from that side of it." He added that Chermiti would undergo a scan the following day, noting, "He’ll get a scan tomorrow. He’ll leave here today in a boot and a brace. It’s a knee injury of some sort but I think it would be silly to speculate anything until we get the scan results tomorrow. Hopefully he’s been lucky because we could certainly do a bit of that.
Obviously he’s a big part for us going forward and hopefully we get a positive scan." Looking ahead, McInnes stressed that the early season challenges are part of a longer journey. He urged patience from supporters and the media, reminding everyone that rebuilding a squad takes time, especially when injuries and fitness issues are in play.
"We need to stay united, keep working hard in training, and trust the process," he concluded. "If we stay focused and keep improving, the results will follow." The broader context of the Scottish Premiership remains competitive, with Celtic and St Mirren both maintaining a perfect start to the campaign.
Rangers, despite the setback, are still within striking distance and possess the talent to close the gap if they can find consistency and keep key players like Chermiti fit. Fans will be watching closely as McInnes looks to turn the tide and prove that the club’s reputation is not as bleak as some headlines suggest. --- *This article is part of Sky Sports' coverage of the Scottish Premiership, including live tables, fixtures, and transfer news. For the latest updates, download the Sky Sports app.*