Rangers have been knocked out of European competition completely, leaving them five points adrift of league leaders Celtic even before September has fully arrived. The early-season disappointment has amplified the pressure on both the playing group and manager Derek McInnes at Ibrox, and the next test comes on Sunday when his re‑shaped side travels to Pittodrie to take on former club Aberdeen in a fixture that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The core question for supporters and pundits alike is whether McInnes can spark a response from a group of players he himself has described as struggling, and what underlying factors are contributing to the club’s current malaise.
### Immediate reaction to the Jablonec loss After the 0‑0 draw that went to penalties against Czech side Jablonec, McInnes was visibly upset, calling the performance "mortifying" and "embarrassing". The statistics underline his frustration: only one shot on target in 120 minutes, less possession than the opposition, and a lack of creativity in attack coupled with shaky defending. Jablonec finished fifth in the Czech First League last season, so the result was a stark reminder that Rangers are not yet operating at the level expected of a club of their stature.
Sky Sports analyst Kris Boyd labelled the display an "all‑time low" for the Glasgow side. McInnes took full responsibility, admitting his players were "miles short" of the standards required. He also acknowledged that the squad seemed uncomfortable on the ball, ineffective on the counter‑attack, and hesitant when forced to play a more direct style.
Boyd added that the frequency of changes McInnes has been forced to make suggests a lack of trust in certain individuals, which in turn erodes the players' own confidence. ### Why the defeat mattered The loss means Rangers will not feature in any European group‑stage matches this season – a situation not seen since 2017. For a club that has historically counted on continental football for both prestige and revenue, this is a significant setback.
Some fans will point fingers at the manager, others at the playing staff, but the reality is that the failure was collective. After a 1‑0 win in the first leg, Rangers enjoyed a clear week to prepare, even arranging for their league game against St Mirren to be postponed.
McInnes kept the same starting eleven for the first half, only to make three changes at the break – a pattern that has repeated throughout the campaign. Despite multiple tactical tweaks, none produced the desired effect, leaving the team looking disjointed for the full 120 minutes.
### Assessing McInnes' early record When placed in a broader context, McInnes' start compares unfavourably with his recent predecessors. Russell Martin, who began the previous season in charge, recorded three wins and one loss in his first seven games before being dismissed after a further ten fixtures. Danny Rohl, who replaced Martin in October, managed four wins and three defeats over the same span before leaving for RB Salzburg. By contrast, McInnes has secured only two victories while suffering three defeats in his first seven matches, putting him on a poorer trajectory than both of his immediate forerunners.
### Fan sentiment and the prospect of change Ibrox supporters have historically been quick to lose patience when a season gets off to a poor start. Some sections of the fanbase 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 rebuild. The club’s owners, led by chairman Andrew Cavenagh and the American consortium that took control, have publicly pledged "sustained winning and winning sustainably".
Yet at a recent shareholders’ meeting, Cavenagh admitted that repeatedly finishing second or lower was beginning to permeate every corner of the organisation. Celtic’s dominance over the past 15 seasons – 14 league titles – looms large, and Rangers’ recent third‑place finish behind a Hearts side managed by McInnes himself underscores the urgency of reversing the trend. Behind the scenes, Ibrox has undergone significant restructuring: a new CEO, revised recruitment policies, and a fresh managerial appointment. Although Cavenagh confessed that the early‑season form fell short of his expectations, he also expressed a more optimistic outlook than he held a year ago, suggesting that a period of calm might be the prudent path forward.
### Will the board continue to back McInnes? All signs point to continued support for the manager.
The club’s recent summer spending – a substantial outlay that would not have been approved without confidence in the head coach – indicates that the hierarchy still believes McInnes can deliver results. Chief executive Jim Gillespie, who oversaw the managerial search, said McInnes was "the only one who ticked all the boxes" when he was poached from Hearts in June. The board’s commitment is further reflected in the summer transfer activity: twelve new players have arrived, and a £9.2 million deal for striker Kevin Kelsy with Portland Timbers appears imminent. In the aftermath of the Jablonec disappointment, McInnes acknowledged that his squad was "young" and "inexperienced" and promised that signings were being pursued to address those deficiencies.
This forward‑looking approach suggests that the club is not looking for a quick fix but rather building a foundation for sustained improvement. ### The road ahead The immediate fixture list offers McInnes several opportunities to arrest the slide.
After the Aberdeen clash on Sunday, Rangers travel to Falkirk on Wednesday before hosting Motherwell at Ibrox the following Saturday – all three games will be shown live on Sky Sports. The international break will then be followed by two high‑stakes Old Firm encounters: a League Cup tie at Ibrox on September 13 and a Premiership showdown at Celtic Park a week later, both televised. These back‑to‑back matches provide a chance for the manager to implement the "huge improvements" he has spoken about and to demonstrate that the new signings can make an immediate impact. If the team can show greater composure on the ball, sharper counter‑attacking play, and a renewed belief in their own abilities, the early season narrative could shift dramatically.
In summary, Rangers find themselves at a crossroads after an early European exit and a series of disappointing league results. While criticism is inevitable, the club’s leadership appears willing to give McInnes the time and resources needed to turn things around. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the Ibrox faithful can regain confidence in their manager and whether the new recruits can help restore Rangers to the front of the Scottish game.