Derek McInnes openly acknowledged that Rangers are still a step short of the quality required for regular competition in the Europa League. The Glasgow club had drawn 1-1 with Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok in the second leg of their third‑qualifying round at Ibrox, only to be eliminated 3-2 on aggregate. This defeat marks the quickest departure from the tournament since the 2017 campaign and extends McInnes' winless run as the club's manager to four matches. The Polish opponents later responded to a fan‑made taunt that compared their club name to a Wi‑Fi password, a jab that sparked a chorus of boos from the Rangers supporters at full‑time.
McInnes accepted the reaction, saying the crowd’s displeasure was understandable given the performance on the pitch. "It was justified, to be honest. It wasn't good enough. What we served up, particularly in the second half, wasn't good enough," the former Rangers midfielder said in the post‑match interview.
He went on to stress the ambition of the club: "We need to be honest, the club is built for Europa League and Champions League and that is the intention, to get there. But I'm not sure the team is quite ready for it at the moment and it pains me to say that." McInnes highlighted the need for higher‑quality players and greater confidence throughout the squad. "We need to get more quality, we need to try and get more confidence out of the team," he added, noting that injuries to left‑back Tuur Rommens and striker Youssef Chermiti had forced him to reshuffle the lineup.
He opted for a back three and introduced five changes from the previous weekend’s loss to Hibernian. "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 explained.
He believed the tactical shift paid off in terms of creating chances inside the penalty area, which eventually led to Rangers’ goal. "I thought we were good value for getting it one and a half‑time, but I still thought that Jagiellonia had a couple of scares," he said. Nevertheless, McInnes was blunt about the overall quality of the display. "Once again, it's not another 90‑minute performance.
That's been in Rangers for a while now. It's been a continuation of that this season, already.
In the four games we've played, we've had some good moments, but it's not been good enough and certainly not a strong enough 90‑minute performance," he lamented. He singled out a particular moment when the team failed to react appropriately to a defensive lapse. "But for us to lose the goal. It's inexplicable how we don't make a foul, how we don't stop the flow of the attack, how we don't just sanitise that whole situation.
It's not lack of bodies, it's lack of intelligence, it's lack of doing the right thing, to be honest. We lost all our composure after that, if I'm going to be honest with you," McInnes said. At 55, McInnes is the sixth permanent manager appointed by Rangers since Steven Gerrard’s departure in 2021.
Despite the shaky start to his tenure, he remains convinced that he can steer the club back on course. "What we served up last year wasn't good enough. You get a job for a reason. 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," the former Hearts boss asserted.
He emphasized the expectation that Rangers should be winning matches, especially against lower‑ranked opposition. "There's no two ways about it, we should be winning this game. 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," McInnes concluded.
The defeat also raises questions about the club’s recruitment strategy. McInnes hinted that the current roster lacks the depth and experience needed for European nights, and he suggested that bringing in players with proven continental pedigree could bridge the gap.
He also stressed the importance of mental resilience, noting that the team’s inability to maintain composure under pressure has been a recurring theme. Looking ahead, the manager will have to balance the immediate need to secure domestic silverware with the longer‑term goal of building a side capable of competing on multiple fronts. The upcoming League Cup clash against St Mirren offers a chance to restore confidence, but the underlying issues highlighted by McInnes – tactical discipline, player quality, and psychological fortitude – will need to be addressed if Rangers are to fulfill their ambitions of regular Europa League and Champions League participation.
In summary, McInnes’ candid assessment underscores a period of transition for Rangers. While the early European exit is a setback, the manager’s willingness to confront shortcomings and outline a clear roadmap for improvement could prove pivotal. Fans will be watching closely as the club seeks to translate its historic stature into consistent performance both at home and abroad.