Rangers have been eliminated from all European competitions, leaving them five points adrift of league leaders Celtic even before September has fully arrived. The disappointment has intensified the scrutiny on both the playing squad and manager Derek McInnes at Ibrox. Their next challenge will be a trip to Pittodrie on Sunday, where they will meet former club Aberdeen in a Sky Sports‑broadcast fixture. The central question now is whether McInnes can spark a turnaround in a group of players he has himself described as struggling, and what underlying issues are hampering the club’s performance.
**What has been the reaction?** McInnes publicly expressed that he felt "mortified" and "embarrassed" after the 2‑0 loss to Jablonec. The statistics underline his frustration: only a single shot on target in 120 minutes, less possession than the Czech side, and an overall lack of creativity in attack coupled with defensive insecurity.
Jablonec finished fifth in the Czech First League last season, so the result was a stark under‑achievement for a club of Rangers’ stature. Sky Sports analyst Kris Boyd even labelled the display an "all‑time low" for the Glasgow outfit.
The manager took full responsibility, conceding that his players were "miles short" of the standards required. The reality is that Rangers will not feature in any European group stage this season – a situation not seen since 2017. Some supporters will point the finger at McInnes, others at the playing staff, but the truth is that the defeat was a collective failure. **Why did the loss happen?** After a 1‑0 victory in the first leg, Rangers enjoyed a clear week to prepare, even arranging for their league match against St Mirren to be postponed.
McInnes stuck with the same starting eleven for the first time this season, yet at halftime he made three changes – a pattern that has recurred throughout the campaign. The adjustments failed to produce any meaningful shift; the team never seemed comfortable on the ball, struggled to execute effective counters, and appeared uneasy when forced to play a more direct style. Boyd suggested that McInnes’ frequent tinkering indicates a lack of trust in certain players, which in turn has eroded their confidence. **How poor has the start truly been?** Every managerial tenure is judged against its predecessors.
McInnes’ record so far does not compare favourably with those who came before him. Russell Martin began the previous season with three wins and one loss in his first seven games before being dismissed after ten more fixtures. Danny Rohl, who replaced Martin in October, recorded four wins and three defeats over a similar span before departing for RB Salzburg. By contrast, McInnes has managed just two wins and three losses in his first seven matches, making his opening period the weakest of the three.
**What lies ahead?** The next test is a visit to Aberdeen, a club McInnes knows intimately from his earlier spell. The match will be televised live on Sky Sports, offering a chance for the manager to demonstrate whether his side can respond positively to criticism and regain belief.
**Patience or change – what will the fans demand?** When a season begins badly, sections of the Ibrox faithful can quickly lose patience. Some supporters are already calling for decisive change, while others argue that a revolving door of managers – seven permanent appointments in less than five years – is unsustainable and that stability is needed. The underlying issue may extend beyond the dugout, prompting the board to give McInnes more time. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and the American consortium that own the club have publicly stated that their ambition is "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 organisation.
Over the past 15 seasons, Celtic have captured the league title 14 times, and in the most recent campaign Rangers finished third, behind a Hearts side that McInnes himself managed. Significant structural changes have taken place at Ibrox in the last year: a new chief executive, a revamped recruitment strategy, and a fresh managerial appointment. Although Cavenagh conceded that the early‑season form is not what he would have hoped for, he also expressed a more optimistic outlook than he did a year ago.
This suggests that a period of calm may be the prudent approach for now. **Will the board continue to back McInnes?** All signs point to yes. The owners would not have authorised the substantial summer spending – including twelve new signings – if they lacked confidence in the manager. Chief executive Jim Gillespie, who oversaw the recruitment process, said McInnes was "the only name that ticked all the boxes" when they approached him from Hearts in June.
While results are expected to improve quickly, Gillespie has never hidden his belief that McInnes can restore success to Rangers. The club’s transfer activity continues apace. Kevin Kelsy is likely to join after a £9.2 million deal with the Portland Timbers was agreed, adding firepower to a relatively young and inexperienced squad.
McInnes himself acknowledged the youthfulness of his side after the Jablonec defeat, noting that the club is actively working on signings to address that weakness. **What does the immediate future hold?** Rangers have a packed schedule that could provide the momentum they need.
After Aberdeen, they travel to Falkirk on Wednesday, then host Motherwell at Ibrox the following Saturday – both fixtures televised on Sky Sports. The international break will be brief, and the calendar quickly fills with two crucial Old Firm encounters: a League Cup tie at Ibrox on 13 September, followed by a Premiership clash at Celtic Park a week later, both also on Sky Sports. In summary, while the early season has been fraught with disappointment, the combination of strategic investment, a clear recruitment plan, and a series of high‑profile matches offers McInnes and Rangers a realistic pathway to reverse their fortunes.
The club’s leadership appears willing to give the manager time, provided tangible progress follows. The next few weeks will be decisive in determining whether that patience is rewarded or whether a more radical change becomes inevitable.