Derek McInnes openly acknowledged that Rangers are not yet equipped to compete at the level required for the Europa League. The Glasgow club had drawn the second leg of their third‑round qualifying tie against Poland's Jagiellonia Białystok 1‑1 at Ibrox, but ultimately fell out of the competition 3‑2 on aggregate.
This defeat marks Rangers' quickest elimination from the tournament since 2017 and extends McInnes' winless run as the club’s manager to four matches. The Polish side, Jagiellonia, had previously taken umbrage at a fan‑made joke that likened the club’s name to a Wi‑Fi password. When the final whistle blew, a chorus of boos echoed around Ibrox, a reaction that McInnes said he understood and accepted.
"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 his post‑match interview.
He went on to explain that the club’s ambitions are clearly aimed at regular participation in both the Europa League and the Champions League. "The intention is to get there, but I'm not convinced the squad is ready for that challenge at this moment," he added, noting that it was painful for him to admit such a shortfall. McInnes highlighted the need for higher quality and greater confidence within the team. "We have to improve the standard of play and find a way to instill more belief in the players," he said.
The manager also mentioned that injuries to left‑back Tuur Rommens and striker Youssef Chermiti forced him to reshuffle the lineup, opting for a back three after making five changes from the previous Sunday’s loss to Hibernian. "I felt we needed to open the game up, and at times the first half became a little too open," McInnes explained.
He praised the work of Gassama and Yakota, who were tasked with wing‑back duties, saying that they were asked to cover a lot of ground. "That approach paid off in terms of creating chances inside the box and ultimately gave us the goal," he noted, though he admitted that Jagiellonia still posed several threats throughout the match.
The manager was blunt about the overall performance, describing it as another sub‑par 90‑minute effort that has become a recurring theme for Rangers this season. "In the four games we've played, there have been moments of promise, but they have not been sufficient. We have not delivered a strong, consistent performance over a full match," McInnes said.
He expressed frustration at a particular defensive lapse that led to the decisive goal, questioning why the team failed to commit a foul, disrupt the attack, or otherwise neutralise the danger. "It wasn't a lack of bodies, it was a lack of intelligence, a failure to make the right decisions," he said. "We lost our composure after that moment, and that cost us dearly." At 55, McInnes is the sixth permanent manager to take charge of Rangers since Steven Gerrard’s departure in 2021. Despite the bleak start to his tenure, he remains confident that he can steer the club back on course.
Reflecting on the previous season’s shortcomings, McInnes remarked, "What we delivered last year wasn't good enough. You get a job for a reason – to improve things. Sometimes you are appointed because things are not right, and you have to act quickly to set them straight." He stressed that Rangers must be winning games, especially against opponents they are expected to beat.
"Rangers, as strong as they can be, should be winning this day, and we have work to do between now and the end of the transfer window, as well as preparing for the upcoming League Cup tie against holders St Mirren," he concluded. The manager’s candid assessment underscores the challenges facing the club as it strives to re‑establish itself among Europe’s elite. While the early Europa exit is a setback, McInnes believes that with the right recruitment, tactical adjustments, and a renewed mental edge, Rangers can still achieve their long‑term objectives of regular continental competition and domestic dominance.