Derek McInnes insists 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 young striker Youssef Chermiti was carried off on a stretcher after sustaining a knee injury. Both Celtic and St Mirren have already amassed six points from their opening two league fixtures, leaving Rangers five points adrift and already in pursuit of a better start. McInnes is now desperate for his inaugural victory after three games in the hot seat at Ibrox.
"We’re not as bad as some people are saying at the minute," McInnes told Sky Sports. "It’s crucial that we batten down the hatches, stay strong and stay together. As a club we want to finish this window strongly and we will. Right now 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." He acknowledged the blow to the team caused by Chermiti’s injury, describing it as "far from ideal" but emphasizing the need to build a side that can find rhythm and cohesion to win games.
"We didn’t start the way we wanted, but we still plan to get the finish and the outcome we desire, and we’ll work towards that," he added. 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.
It was the visitors’ first shot of the game. McInnes felt the decision was incorrect and that it contributed to the early deficit. "I think it was a wrong decision that made us go behind in the first place," he said. Despite the setback, McInnes believed there were positive moments in the first half, even if the overall tempo was "a bit slow and pedestrian at times." He praised his side for creating space against a well‑organised Hibs side, noting that the away team’s shape forced Rangers to fight hard for possession.
"I still thought we had some good moments," he remarked, adding that the injury to Chermiti forced a tactical adjustment. Regarding the penalty, McInnes expressed surprise, saying, "I didn’t see it at the time and I’ve watched the replay – I don’t think it was a penalty kick. I don’t think the referee should be brought over." He remained confident that his team could recover, stating, "We’ve put ourselves in a position to try and dig ourselves out of it." He felt Rangers were the more likely side to score and believed the substitutes made a difference in the final 25 minutes.
"We were by far the dominant team. I thought we were the better team and sometimes you don’t get what you deserve, but nobody will tell me otherwise," McInnes asserted. He stressed that while the performance was not flawless, it was superior to Hibs and that it was unfair for his players to be on the losing side after such effort. McInnes praised the players’ determination, saying he was delighted with their effort and their continued push for a win.
He admitted he did not anticipate the second goal, which came after a slight deflection that beat Ivor and sealed the victory for Hibs. "Both goals were harsh on us. The penalty, the deflection – sometimes it’s like that and you just need to dig deep and go again," he reflected.
"A tough way to lose it." The match also featured another blow for Rangers when Chermiti, who had been the target of a failed £22 million bid from Galatasaray – a figure that would have set a new club record – was forced to leave the field after picking up a knee injury. Ibrox officials are reportedly keen to retain the 22‑year‑old striker, valuing him higher than the £19.6 million they received for Calvin Bassey’s move to Ajax in 2023. Chermiti, who joined Glasgow last summer in a deal worth up to £10 million, contributed 15 goals and five assists across all competitions in the previous season.
McInnes commented on the club’s stance: "The fact that the board 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 left the pitch today in a boot and a brace. It’s a knee injury of some sort, but it would be silly to speculate until we have the scan results." He hoped the medical assessment would be positive, noting, "Hopefully he’s been lucky because we could certainly use him.
He’s a big part of our plans moving forward and we hope for a good scan." Looking ahead, McInnes emphasized the need for the squad to stay united, manage injuries wisely, and maintain belief despite a challenging start. He reiterated that the early season points table does not reflect the true quality of the team and that Rangers will continue to work hard to climb the Scottish Premiership ladder. The manager concluded with a reminder that perseverance, fitness restoration, and tactical tweaks will be essential as they aim to turn the tide and secure their first win under his leadership.
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