Derek McInnes maintains that Rangers "aren't as bad as people think" even though his tenure at Ibrox has begun without a win. The new manager endured a painful home debut when his side fell 2-1 to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, a match that also saw promising striker Youssef Chermiti stretchered off after sustaining an injury. With Celtic and St Mirren already sitting on six points from two games each, Rangers find themselves five points adrift and already in pursuit mode, eager for McInnes to secure his first victory after three outings in the Ibrox hot seat. "We're not as bad as some people will be saying at the minute," McInnes told Sky Sports.
"And I think it's important that we just batten down the hatches, stay strong, stay together. We try, as a club, to come out of this window strong and we will. At the minute, we're trying to manage the situation. Some players are not quite as fit but we need to get them playing to get them fit." He added that the injury to Chermiti was "far from ideal" but stressed the need to build a side that can develop rhythm and cohesion, enabling the team to win games.
"We're not at the start we wanted but we still plan to get the finish and the outcome that we want and we'll work towards that," the manager said. The match itself began with Hibs taking the lead in the 11th minute after a Josh Campbell penalty. VAR had intervened when Vanja Dragojevic, making his first start for Rangers after arriving from Partizan Belgrade, fouled Hibernian defender Jason Kerr inside the box. The penalty was the visitors' first shot of the game and put Rangers under immediate pressure.
McInnes was quick to question the decision, stating, "I think it was a wrong decision that made us go behind in the first place. I don't think the referee should be brought over. I didn't see it at the time and I've seen it since and I don't think it's a penalty kick." He went on to describe the first half as "a bit slow and a bit pedestrian at times," but also highlighted moments of quality, noting that Rangers were often the more dominant side despite the final score. "I thought we were the team that was always looking more likely to score.
In the last part of the game, 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," McInnes said.
The manager also expressed disappointment over the injury to Chermiti, who had been the subject of a failed £22 million bid from Galatasaray – a figure that would have set a new club record. Ibrox officials are reportedly determined to retain the 22‑year‑old forward, valuing him even higher than the £19.6 million received for Calvin Bassey when he moved to Ajax in 2023. Chermiti, who arrived in Glasgow last summer for a fee that could rise to £10 million, contributed 15 goals and five assists across all competitions in the previous season. "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," McInnes explained.
"He'll get a scan tomorrow. It's a knee injury of some sort but I think it would be silly to speculate anything until we get the scan results. 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." Beyond the immediate disappointment, McInnes emphasized the broader picture for the club. He stressed that the early season fixtures are a test of character and that the squad must remain united while they work through fitness issues and integrate new signings.
"We need to get the players playing to get them fit," he reiterated, underlining the importance of squad depth and rotation as the season progresses. Looking ahead, the Rangers board and coaching staff will be monitoring Chermiti's recovery closely, while also assessing the impact of the penalty controversy on the team's morale. The manager's optimism suggests that, despite the setback, there is belief within the camp that the side can bounce back, tighten up defensively, and convert the moments of dominance they displayed into tangible points.
In the wider context of the Scottish Premiership, Rangers' position five points behind the leaders underscores the competitive nature of the league this year. With Celtic and St Mirren both on six points, the gap is not insurmountable, but it does demand consistency and resilience from McInnes's squad. The manager's message to his players and supporters alike is clear: stay united, work hard, and trust the process.
As the season unfolds, Rangers fans will be hoping that the early adversity serves as a catalyst for improvement rather than a lingering source of frustration. The club's ambition to finish the campaign strongly remains intact, and McInnes's resolve to steer the team back on course will be tested in the upcoming fixtures.
The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether the Rangers can turn the tide, secure that elusive first win under McInnes, and re‑establish themselves as serious contenders for the title.