Derek McInnes insists that Rangers are "not as poor as some critics suggest" even though his tenure at Ibrox has yet to produce a victory. The former Aberdeen manager endured a painful home debut as the Rangers head coach, seeing his side fall 2-1 to Hibernian in a Scottish Premiership clash, a match that was further marred when promising striker Youssef Chermiti was stretchered off with an injury. At the same time, Celtic and St Mirren sit on six points after two league fixtures each, leaving Rangers five points adrift and already in pursuit mode.
McInnes, now in his third match in the Ibrox hot seat, is desperate for his first win. "We’re not as bad as some people are saying at the moment," he told Sky Sports, adding that the squad must "batten down the hatches, stay strong, stay together" as they navigate this early turbulence. He emphasized the club’s ambition to finish the season strongly, noting that a number of players are still regaining full fitness.
"We need to get them playing so they can get fit," McInnes said, underscoring the importance of building rhythm and cohesion within the team. The injury to Chermiti, while unfortunate, is just one of several setbacks the manager hopes to overcome as the season progresses. The match itself began with Hibernian 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, was judged to have fouled Hibs defender Jason Kerr in the box.
McInnes immediately questioned the decision, calling it "wrong" and suggesting it altered the early balance of the game. He felt the first half contained moments of quality but also described the overall tempo as "slow and pedestrian" at times.
"Hibs are a side that organised themselves well and forced us to fight for space," McInnes observed. He praised his players for their resilience, especially after Chermiti’s abrupt exit due to injury. The striker, who had been the subject of a failed £22 million bid from Galatasaray—a figure that would have set a new club record—was forced to leave the pitch, adding to the team’s woes. McInnes was candid about the penalty, stating, "I didn’t think it was a penalty at the time and after reviewing the footage I still don’t believe it should have been given.
The referee shouldn’t have pointed it out." He felt the decision was a turning point that contributed to the eventual defeat. Nevertheless, he maintained that Rangers were the better side for much of the encounter. "In the last 25 minutes the substitutes made a difference, and we were by far the dominant team," he argued, insisting that the result did not reflect the quality on display.
He also highlighted the disappointment of conceding a second goal, which came after a slight deflection that slipped past goalkeeper Ivor. "Both goals were harsh on us," McInnes said, noting that such moments often require a team to dig deep and respond positively. He praised his squad’s effort, saying he was delighted with their determination to chase a win despite the adversity.
Beyond the match, the situation surrounding Youssef Chermiti remains a focal point. The 22‑year‑old forward, who joined Rangers last summer for a fee that could rise to £10 million, contributed 15 goals and five assists across all competitions in his debut season.
His recent injury, reportedly a knee problem, prompted immediate medical attention. McInnes confirmed that Chermiti would undergo a scan the following day, emphasizing that speculation would be premature until the results are known.
"The club rejected a massive offer, which shows how important he is to us," McInnes added, indicating that the board is keen to retain the youngster and values him above the £19.6 million received for Calvin Bassey’s transfer to Ajax. Looking ahead, McInnes remains focused on rebuilding momentum.
He stressed the necessity of integrating returning players, restoring fitness, and establishing a playing rhythm that can translate into consistent results. "We’re not where we wanted to be at the start, but we still plan to finish the season the way we intend," he concluded, reaffirming his belief that the team can recover from the early setbacks and achieve the objectives set out at the beginning of the campaign. Rangers supporters will be watching closely as the manager works to steady the ship, hoping that the combination of tactical adjustments, player fitness, and renewed confidence will soon produce the first win that has thus far eluded McInnes and his side.