Derek McInnes maintains that Rangers "aren't as bad as people think" even though his tenure at Ibrox has begun without a win. His first home match in charge ended in a 2-1 defeat to Hibernian, a loss that was made more painful when the club's promising striker Youssef Chermiti was stretchered off after sustaining a knee injury.
Both Celtic and St Mirren sit on six points after two league fixtures, leaving Rangers five points adrift and already playing catch‑up. McInnes is now hunting for his inaugural victory after three games in the hot seat at Ibrox. "We're not as bad as some people will be saying at the minute," he told Sky Sports, emphasizing the need for the squad to stay united and focused. "We need to batten down the hatches, stay strong, stay together." He added that the club aims to finish the season strongly, even if the start has been far from ideal.
"At the minute, we're trying to manage the situation. Some players aren't fully fit yet, but we need to get them playing so they can regain fitness," McInnes said. The manager also addressed Chermiti's injury, noting that while it is far from ideal, the team must continue to develop a rhythm and a connection that can translate into wins. "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 affirmed.
The match itself began with Hibs taking the lead in the 11th minute after a Josh Campbell spot‑kick. VAR had intervened when Vanja Dragojevic, making his first start for Rangers after arriving from Partizan Belgrade, fouled Hibernian defender Jason Kerr in the box.
The penalty was the visitors' first shot of the game. McInnes was quick to criticize the decision, saying, "I think it was a wrong decision that made us go behind in the first place." He felt the first half contained moments of quality but was overall sluggish and pedestrian.
"Hibs are a team that came out well, their shape allowed them to press us and we had to fight hard for space," McInnes explained. He also expressed disappointment at the injury to Chermiti, noting the impact on both the player and the team. Regarding the penalty, McInnes said, "I don't think the referee should be brought over. It was a surprise and I still don't think it was a proper penalty kick." Despite the setback, McInnes believed his side had created several good chances and that the substitutes made a positive contribution in the final quarter of the game.
"We were by far the dominant team. I thought we were the better team and sometimes you don't get the result you deserve, but nobody will tell me otherwise," he asserted.
He praised his players for their effort and resilience, saying, "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." The manager also reflected on the harshness of both goals, especially the second, which came after a slight deflection that slipped past Ivor. "Sometimes it's like that and you just need to dig deep and go again," McInnes said, acknowledging the difficulty of the loss.
The injury to Chermiti added further drama to the evening. The 22‑year‑old forward, who recently turned down a reported £22 million bid from Galatasaray, was forced off after picking up a knee problem. Rangers' hierarchy appear keen to retain him, valuing him higher than the club‑record £19.6 million fee received for Calvin Bassey when he moved to Ajax in 2023. Chermiti joined Glasgow last summer for a fee that could rise to £10 million and contributed 15 goals and five assists across all competitions in his debut season.
McInnes commented on the situation: "The fact that the club rejected such a big number shows how important he is to us, so we're delighted from that side of it. He'll get a scan tomorrow.
He's leaving today in a boot and a brace. It's a knee injury of some sort but I think it would be silly to speculate until we get the scan results tomorrow." He remained hopeful that the scan would be positive, adding, "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 emphasized that the squad must stay focused on improving fitness levels, integrating new signings, and building a cohesive playing style that can compete with the league's top sides.
He acknowledged the early pressure but insisted that patience and hard work will eventually yield results. "We need to keep working, keep believing, and keep pushing for the wins we know we can achieve," he concluded. Rangers supporters will be watching closely as the manager seeks to turn the tide, hoping that the combination of tactical adjustments, player fitness, and a bit of luck with injuries will see the club climb back into the title race.