Rangers have been eliminated from European competition entirely, finding themselves five points adrift of league leaders Celtic even before September has fully arrived. The disappointment has amplified the scrutiny on both the playing squad and manager Derek McInnes at Ibrox, where expectations are high and patience is wearing thin. McInnes’s next test comes on Sunday when his revamped side travels to Pittodrie to take on his former club Aberdeen, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The central question looming over the Ibrox faithful is whether the manager can spark a turnaround in a group of players he himself has described as struggling, and what underlying factors are contributing to the club’s current malaise.
**What was the immediate reaction?** Following the 2‑0 loss to Jablonec, McInnes publicly expressed that he felt "mortified" and "embarrassed" by the performance. The numbers underline his frustration: only a single shot on target across 120 minutes, possession inferior to the visitors, and a team that appeared bereft of attacking ideas while lacking confidence defensively. Jablonec, a side that finished fifth in the Czech Republic’s top division last season, managed to expose Rangers’ vulnerabilities, prompting Sky Sports analyst Kris Boyd to label the display an "all‑time low" for the Glasgow club.
McInnes accepted full responsibility, admitting his players were "miles short" of the standards required. The reality is stark – Rangers will not feature in any European group‑stage fixtures this season, a situation not seen since 2017.
Some supporters will point fingers at the manager, others at the playing staff, but the defeat was undeniably a collective shortfall. **Why did the loss happen despite a full preparation week?** Rangers entered the tie with a clear schedule, having arranged for their league fixture against St Mirren to be postponed and retaining the same starting eleven that had secured a 1‑0 first‑leg victory. Yet, at halftime McInnes made three changes – a pattern that has recurred throughout the campaign when results have faltered.
Throughout the 120 minutes he altered both formation and personnel multiple times, yet none of those adjustments produced the desired effect. Post‑match, McInnes conceded that his side does not feel comfortable on the ball, lacks effectiveness on the counter‑attack, and appears uneasy when playing a direct style. Boyd interpreted the frequent changes as a sign that McInnes has "no trust" in certain players, which in turn has eroded their confidence. **How poor is this start compared with previous managers?** Every season brings its own challenges, but a quick statistical comparison highlights the difficulty McInnes faces.
Russell Martin, who began the previous season, recorded three wins and one loss in his first seven games before being dismissed after an additional ten matches. Danny Rohl, who succeeded Martin in October, posted four wins and three defeats over the same span before departing for RB Salzburg. In contrast, McInnes’s record stands at two wins and three losses in his opening seven fixtures – the weakest start among his recent predecessors. **What is the mood among the fanbase?** When a campaign gets off to a rough start, sections of the Ibrox crowd can quickly lose patience.
Some supporters are already calling for a change in direction, while others argue that constant managerial turnover – seven permanent bosses in less than five years – is unsustainable and that stability is needed to allow any manager time to implement his vision. The club’s ownership, led by chairman Andrew Cavenagh and a US‑based consortium, has publicly emphasized a desire for "sustained winning and winning sustainably." Yet, at a recent shareholders’ meeting Cavenagh admitted that finishing second – or lower – has begun to permeate every corner of the organization, signalling a growing sense of unease.
Celtic’s dominance over the past 15 seasons (14 league titles) looms large, and Rangers finished third last season, even behind a Hearts side that McInnes himself managed. In response, Ibrox has undertaken significant off‑field changes: a new CEO, revised recruitment policies, and a fresh managerial appointment. While Cavenagh conceded that the early season form is not what he expected, he also expressed more optimism now than a year ago, suggesting that a period of calm may be the prudent path forward. **Will the board continue to back McInnes?** All signs point to continued support.
The club’s summer spending spree – 12 new signings and a reported £9.2 million deal for striker Kevin Kelsy from the Portland Timbers – would not have been approved without confidence in the manager’s ability to deliver results. Chief executive Jim Gillespie, who led the search for a new boss, described McInnes as the "only one name that ticked all the boxes" when he was recruited from Hearts in June. McInnes himself acknowledges that "huge improvements" are needed, but he remains hopeful that the upcoming fixtures will provide an opportunity to showcase progress. After Aberdeen, Rangers face a quick away game at Falkirk, then host Motherwell at Ibrox, before the international break.
Two Old Firm clashes also loom – a League Cup tie at Ibrox on September 13 and a Premiership encounter at Celtic Park a week later – both of which will be televised on Sky Sports. In summary, Rangers are at a crossroads. The early European exit has intensified pressure on Derek McInnes, but the club’s leadership appears willing to grant him time, provided he can translate the substantial investment in the squad into tangible on‑field improvement. The next few weeks will be decisive, as the team seeks to reverse its fortunes and restore confidence among a fanbase eager for a return to winning ways.