Derek McInnes openly acknowledged that Rangers are "not yet ready" to compete at the level required for the Europa League. The Ibrox club secured a 1‑1 draw in the second leg of their third‑qualifying‑round tie against Poland's Jagiellonia Bialystok, but ultimately fell 3‑2 on aggregate, marking their swiftest departure from the competition since the 2017 campaign. This defeat also extended McInnes' winless run as Rangers manager to four consecutive games.
The Polish side, Jagiellonia, responded to a cheeky comment from some supporters that their club name sounded like a Wi‑Fi password with a tongue‑in‑cheek retort, prompting a chorus of boos from the Rangers faithful at the final whistle. McInnes accepted the reaction, noting that the crowd's displeasure was understandable given the circumstances. "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 club's ambitions: "We need to be honest, the club is built for Europa League and Champions League and that's 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, to be honest, it does." McInnes highlighted the need for higher quality and greater confidence within the squad: "We need to get more quality, we need to try and get more confidence out of the team." Injuries to left‑back Tuur Rommens and striker Youssef Chermiti forced the manager to reshuffle his lineup, opting for a back three after making five changes from the previous Sunday’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 yielded some benefits, noting the increased activity in the penalty area that eventually produced 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. 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 added.
The manager reflected on the inconsistency that has plagued the side throughout the campaign, saying, "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 was particularly critical of the defensive lapse that led to the decisive goal, describing it as 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." At 55, McInnes is the sixth permanent manager appointed by Rangers since Steven Gerrard's departure in 2021. Despite the bleak start to his tenure, he remains convinced that a turnaround is possible.
"What we served up last year wasn't good enough. You get a job for a reason," the former Hearts coach said. "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.
There's no two ways about it, we should be winning this game." Looking ahead, McInnes emphasized the importance of regrouping before the upcoming Scottish League Cup tie against defending champions St Mirren. "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 stressed that the squad must address both tactical and mental deficiencies if they hope to fulfil the club's European aspirations.
The defeat also sparked broader discussion among supporters and pundits about Rangers' squad depth and recruitment strategy. Many pointed out that the lack of experienced players capable of handling high‑pressure continental fixtures is evident, especially when key figures like Rommens and Chermiti are sidelined.
Others argued that the club's recent transfer policy has not delivered the required quality, leaving the manager to make do with a makeshift back three and an over‑reliant wing‑back system. In summary, McInnes' candid assessment underscores a painful reality: Rangers possess the infrastructure and ambition to compete on the European stage, yet the current roster and tactical setup fall short of those expectations. The manager's admission that the team is "not ready" serves as both a critique and a call to action, urging the club's hierarchy to invest in players with the technical ability and mental resilience needed for continental success.
Until those changes materialise, Rangers risk further early exits and a growing sense of frustration among a fanbase that expects more than sporadic moments of brilliance.