Derek McInnes has openly acknowledged that Rangers are still "not ready" to compete at the level required for the Europa League. The Ibrox club managed only a 1-1 draw at home in the second leg of their third‑qualifying round tie against Poland's Jagiellonia Bialystok, and ultimately went out 3-2 on aggregate. This defeat marks the earliest exit from the European competition for the Glasgow side since the 2017 campaign, and it also extends McInnes' winless run as Rangers manager to four matches. The atmosphere at Ibrox after the final whistle was hostile, with supporters unleashing a chorus of boos that McInnes did not try to hide from.
The reaction was partly fuelled by a recent joke from Jagiellonia supporters, who likened the club’s name to a Wi‑Fi password, a quip that seemed to irritate the Rangers faithful. McInnes, a former midfielder for the club, accepted the criticism without reservation. "It was justified, to be honest.
It wasn't good enough. What we served up, particularly in the second half, simply wasn't up to the standard we need," McInnes said in the post‑match interview. He went on to stress that the club’s long‑term ambition is to be a regular participant in both the Europa League and the Champions League, but he doubts the current squad is capable of delivering that level just yet.
"I’m sorry to say it, but the team isn’t quite ready for that kind of football at the moment," he added. The manager highlighted the need for higher quality players and greater confidence across the squad. Injuries have not helped; left‑back Tuur Rommens and striker Youssef Chermiti were both sidelined, prompting McInnes to switch to a back three and make five changes from the previous defeat to Hibernian. He explained that the tactical shift was intended to open up the game, but admitted that the wing‑back roles given to Gassama and Yakota placed excessive demands on them, especially in the first half.
"I felt we had to make the game open and it was a bit too open at times in the first half. Gassama and Yakota playing as kind of effectively wing‑backs, we were asking a lot of them at times," McInnes reflected. He did, however, praise the team's ability to create chances inside the penalty area, which ultimately led to the goal that kept them in the tie for a while.
Despite the momentary success, McInnes was quick to point out that Jagiellonia still posed several threats and that Rangers failed to deliver a full 90‑minute performance worthy of European competition. "Once again, it's not another 90‑minute performance. That's been in the Rangers for a while now. It's been a continuation of that this season, already," he said, noting that the team has shown flashes of quality but has not been consistent enough.
He also criticized the lack of composure after conceding, describing the team's reaction as inexplicable. "We lost all our composure after that, if I'm going to be honest with you. It's not lack of bodies, it's lack of intelligence, it's lack of doing the right thing," McInnes lamented.
The 55‑year‑old manager, who is the sixth permanent boss since Steven Gerrard's departure in 2021, believes the club must improve its decision‑making and tactical discipline if it hopes to compete on the continental stage. Even with the poor start to his tenure, McInnes remains confident that he can turn the situation around. He reminded everyone that a job is given for a reason, and that reason is to improve the club’s fortunes.
"You get a job to try and make things better and obviously sometimes you get it because things aren't quite right, and we have to try and get things moving the right way quickly," he said. Looking ahead, McInnes stressed the importance of winning domestic fixtures to build momentum. He specifically mentioned the upcoming League Cup tie against holders St Mirren, urging his players to focus on that challenge while the club works to strengthen the squad before the transfer window closes.
"Rangers, as strong as they can be, should be winning this day and we have got work to do between now and the end of the window, but between now and Sunday to get ready to win a [League] Cup tie [against holders St Mirren]," he asserted. In summary, McInnes' candid assessment underscores a clear message: Rangers have the ambition to be a regular European contender, but the current roster and tactical execution fall short of that goal.
The manager calls for higher‑quality signings, increased confidence, and smarter in‑game decisions to bridge the gap between aspiration and reality. Until those improvements materialise, the club may continue to face early exits from continental competitions, despite its storied history and passionate fanbase.