Derek McInnes openly acknowledged that Rangers are not yet equipped to compete at the level required for the Europa League. The Glasgow club were held to a 1‑1 draw against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok in the second leg of their third‑qualifying‑round tie, ultimately losing 3‑2 on aggregate and suffering their quickest elimination from the competition since 2017. The defeat extended McInnes' winless run as Rangers manager to four matches.
When Jagiellonia responded to a fan’s tongue‑in‑cheek comment that their club name resembled a Wi‑Fi password, the Rangers supporters expressed their displeasure with a chorus of boos at the final whistle – a reaction that McInnes said he understood. "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 explained. "We have to be realistic – the club’s ambition is to be a regular in the Europa League and the Champions League, but I’m not convinced the squad is ready for that level right now, and it hurts me to admit it." He added that the team needs to improve its quality and confidence: "We have to raise the standard, we have to find more belief in ourselves." Rangers were already missing left‑back Tuur Rommens and striker Youssef Chermiti through injury, and McInnes responded by reshaping the back line into a three‑man defence, making five changes from the previous Sunday’s loss to Hibernian.
"I felt we had to open the game up, and at times the first half became too open. Gassama and Yakota were asked to operate almost as wing‑backs, which stretched them a lot," McInnes said. "That risk paid off in terms of creating chances inside the box and eventually the goal. I thought we got good value for the half‑hour we had, although Jagiellonia gave us a few scares as well." He was critical of the overall performance, noting that it fell short of a full‑90‑minute display of quality: "Again, it wasn’t a complete 90‑minute performance.
That has been a pattern for Rangers this season. In the four games we’ve played there have been flashes of promise, but none have been sufficient to constitute a strong, consistent performance for the entire match." McInnes was particularly frustrated by a moment when Rangers failed to prevent a goal: "It’s baffling how we didn’t commit a foul, how we didn’t disrupt the attack, how we didn’t simply neutralise the situation. It wasn’t a lack of bodies, it was a lack of intelligence and poor decision‑making. We lost our composure after that, to be completely honest." At 55, McInnes is the sixth permanent manager appointed since Steven Gerrard’s departure in 2021.
Despite the poor start, he remains convinced he can reverse the club’s fortunes. "What we delivered last season wasn’t good enough. You get a job for a reason – to improve things.
Sometimes you’re hired because things are already off‑track, and you have to act quickly to set them right. There’s no doubt about it, we should have won that game. Rangers, when at their best, are capable of winning, and we have work to do before the next window closes, and especially before Sunday’s League Cup tie against holders St Mirren." The manager’s comments underline a clear message: Rangers must tighten up defensively, make smarter choices under pressure, and find a way to sustain performance for the full ninety minutes if they are to fulfil their European ambitions. The early exit serves as a stark reminder that aspirations alone are not enough; the squad must develop the tactical discipline and mental resilience required at the continental level.
Looking ahead, McInnes hinted that the upcoming domestic fixtures will be a testing ground for the changes he is implementing. He plans to give more minutes to younger players, fine‑tune the back‑three system, and perhaps explore alternative formations that can provide both defensive solidity and attacking fluidity.
The manager also stressed the importance of squad depth, especially given the injuries to Rommens and Chermiti, and indicated that the January transfer window could bring in the necessary reinforcements. In summary, McInnes’ candid assessment reflects a recognition that Rangers are not yet ready for the rigours of European competition. The club’s leadership, coaching staff, and players must work together to raise the standard, improve decision‑making, and deliver the consistency required to compete on both domestic and continental stages. The upcoming matches, particularly the League Cup tie, will be a crucial opportunity to demonstrate progress and restore confidence among the supporters who voiced their disappointment so loudly after the Jagiellonia defeat.