Rangers have now been eliminated from all European competitions, leaving them five points adrift of leaders Celtic even though the season has barely begun. The early setback has amplified the scrutiny on both the squad and their manager, Derek McInnes, at Ibrox.
McInnes’ 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 is whether he can spark a response from a group of players he has openly admitted are currently struggling, and what underlying issues are dragging the club down.
**What has been the reaction?** McInnes described the 2-1 aggregate loss to Jablonec as "mortifying" and "embarrassing" – and the numbers back up his sentiment. Over 120 minutes the visitors managed just one shot on target, were out‑possessed, and looked bereft of any creative spark in attack while appearing nervous at the back.
The Czech side they faced finished only fifth in their domestic league last season, making the defeat all the more shocking. Sky Sports analyst Kris Boyd even labelled the performance an "all‑time low" for the club. Taking full responsibility, McInnes said his players were "miles short" of the standards required. The reality is that Rangers will not feature in any European group stage this campaign – a situation not seen since 2017.
Some supporters will point fingers at the manager, others at the playing staff, but the truth is that the loss was a collective failure. **Why did it go wrong?** Rangers entered the second leg with a 1-0 advantage from the first game and even secured a postponement of their league fixture against St Mirren to allow a full preparation week. McInnes stuck with the same starting XI that had earned the first‑leg win, a decision that marked the first time this season he had not made a pre‑match change. Yet, at halftime he introduced three fresh faces – a pattern that has become familiar throughout this campaign.
The adjustments failed to change the tide; throughout the extra time period McInnes shuffled both formation and personnel multiple times, but none of the tweaks produced the desired effect. Post‑match, McInnes admitted his side lacked comfort on the ball, were ineffective on the counter‑attack and seemed uneasy when forced to play a direct style. Boyd interpreted the frequent changes as a sign that McInnes has "no trust" in certain players, and that those individuals are currently suffering from a confidence crisis. **How poor has the start been compared with previous managers?** Every season presents its own challenges, yet a quick statistical comparison highlights the precariousness of McInnes’ position.
Russell Martin, who began the previous season at Ibrox, recorded three wins and one loss in his first seven games before being dismissed after ten more fixtures. Danny Rohl, who succeeded Martin in October, managed four wins and three defeats over the same span before departing for RB Salzburg. By contrast, McInnes has secured just two victories while suffering three losses in his first seven outings – the worst start among his recent predecessors.
**Is a calm approach or a radical change required?** Historically, a string of poor results early in the campaign can erode patience among the Ibrox faithful. Some fans are already calling for a shake‑up, while others argue that constant managerial turnover – seven permanent bosses in less than five years – is itself unsustainable and that stability is needed to allow a long‑term plan to take root. The broader issue may extend beyond the dugout. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and the US‑led ownership group have repeatedly emphasized a vision of "sustained winning and winning sustainably".
Yet, at a recent shareholders’ meeting Cavenagh conceded that merely finishing second – or worse – has begun to permeate every corner of the club. Celtic’s dominance over the past 15 seasons (14 league titles) underscores the urgency of Rangers’ revival.
In the most recent season Rangers finished third, trailing not only Celtic but also a Hearts side managed by McInnes himself. In response, the club has overhauled its back‑office structure, appointing a new CEO, revamping recruitment processes and bringing in a fresh managerial perspective.
Although Cavenagh admitted the opening weeks fell short of expectations, he also expressed a more optimistic outlook than a year ago, suggesting that a measured period of calm may be the prudent path forward. **Will the board continue to back McInnes?** All signs point to continued support. The ownership group would not have authorized the significant summer spending – twelve signings to date and a pending £9.2 million acquisition of striker Kevin Kelsy from Portland Timbers – if they lacked confidence in McInnes.
Chief executive Jim Gillespie, who oversaw the managerial appointment, said McInnes was "the only one name that ticked all the boxes" when they pursued him from Hearts in June. While results are expected to improve swiftly, Gillespie has never hidden his belief that McInnes can restore Rangers to winning ways.
Looking ahead, the schedule is packed. After the Aberdeen clash, Rangers travel to Falkirk three days later, then host Motherwell the following Saturday – all matches televised on Sky Sports. The international break will be brief, after which the Old Firm fixtures loom: a League Cup tie at Ibrox on September 13 and a Premiership showdown at Celtic Park a week later, both also on Sky Sports.
These high‑profile games will provide McInnes with a chance to demonstrate tangible progress and may determine whether the club’s patience endures or a decisive change becomes inevitable.