Rangers have been eliminated from all European competition, leaving them five points adrift of league leaders Celtic even before September arrives. The disappointment has intensified the scrutiny on both the playing squad and manager Derek McInnes at Ibrox. McInnes now faces a crucial test as he prepares his revamped side for an away match against his former club Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday, a fixture that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The central question is whether McInnes can spark a response from a group of players he himself has described as struggling, and what underlying issues are hampering the club's performance. **What has been the reaction?** Following the 2-0 loss to Jablonec, McInnes admitted he felt "mortified" and "embarrassed" by the display.
The statistics underline his frustration: only one shot on target in 120 minutes, less possession than the Czech side, an attack that appeared bereft of ideas, and a defence lacking confidence. Jablonec, a team that finished fifth in the Czech top flight last season, seemed to expose every weakness Rangers possessed. Sky Sports analyst Kris Boyd even labeled the performance an "all‑time low" for the club. McInnes accepted full responsibility, stating his players were "miles short" of the standard required for European competition.
The reality is stark: Rangers will not feature in any European group stage this season, a situation not seen since 2017. **Who bears the blame?** Some supporters will point fingers at the manager, while others will criticize the squad.
In truth, the defeat was a collective failure. After a 1‑0 victory in the first leg, Rangers enjoyed a clear week to prepare, even securing a postponement of their league fixture against St Mirren.
McInnes stuck with the same starting eleven for the first time this season, yet at halftime he introduced three changes—a pattern that has become familiar throughout the campaign. The alterations failed to produce any meaningful impact; the team never seemed comfortable on the ball, struggled to execute counter‑attacks, and appeared uneasy when forced to play direct football. Boyd suggested that the frequent changes hint at a lack of trust from McInnes in certain players, which in turn erodes their confidence. **How poor has the start really been?** Every managerial tenure has its own set of challenges, but a quick comparison highlights McInnes's difficulties.
Russell Martin, who began last season, recorded three wins and one loss in his first seven games before being dismissed after ten more matches. Danny Rohl, who succeeded Martin in October, managed four wins and three defeats over an identical span. By contrast, McInnes’s record stands at two victories and three defeats in his first seven fixtures, placing him behind both predecessors.
**What lies ahead?** The next test is a trip to Aberdeen, a club McInnes knows intimately, with the match again televised on Sky Sports. The broader issue for Rangers is whether the club should seek calm or demand change. Historically, a poor start can quickly erode patience among the Ibrox faithful.
Some fans are already calling for decisive action, while others argue that constant managerial turnover—seven permanent bosses in less than five years—is unsustainable and that stability is needed to rebuild. The underlying problems may extend beyond the dugout.
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and the American ownership group have publicly pledged "sustained winning and winning sustainably." Yet at a recent shareholders’ meeting, Cavenagh conceded that finishing second—or worse—has begun to infiltrate every corner of the club. Celtic’s dominance over the past 15 seasons—14 league titles—means Rangers are now chasing a distant dream, having finished third last season behind a Hearts side managed by McInnes himself. Significant changes have been made behind the scenes: a new CEO, revamped recruitment strategies, and a fresh managerial appointment. Although Cavenagh admitted the start to the season fell short of expectations, he expressed a more optimistic outlook than he did a year ago, suggesting that a period of calm might be the prudent path forward—for now.
**Will Rangers continue to back McInnes?** All signs point to continued support. The club’s owners would not have authorized the substantial summer spending—12 new signings—to date if they lacked confidence in the manager.
Chief executive Jim Gillespie, who led the search for a new boss, described McInnes as "the only one who ticked all the boxes" when they poached him from Hearts in June. While results are expected to improve swiftly, Gillespie has never hidden his belief that McInnes can restore success to Rangers. The transfer window remains active. Kevin Kelsy is poised to join after a £9.2 million deal with the Portland Timbers, and the club’s recruitment drive signals a commitment to addressing the squad’s youth and inexperience—issues McInnes himself highlighted after the Jablonec defeat.
**The road ahead is packed with fixtures.** McInnes acknowledged that "huge improvements are needed," and he will be eager to see a better performance when Rangers travel to Pittodrie on Sunday. Three days later, they face Falkirk away, followed by a home clash with Motherwell the subsequent Saturday.
The international break will be brief, after which the Old Firm derbies loom: a League Cup tie at Ibrox on September 13 and a Premiership showdown at Celtic Park a week later, both televised on Sky Sports. In summary, Rangers are at a crossroads. The early-season setbacks have exposed tactical frailties, squad inexperience, and perhaps a deeper cultural issue within the club. Yet the ownership’s financial backing, a clear recruitment plan, and a manager who accepts responsibility suggest there is still a window for redemption.
Whether calm or change will prevail remains to be seen, but the coming weeks will provide the first real test of McInnes’s ability to turn the tide and restore Rangers to the competitive heights their supporters expect.