Rangers suffered a complete collapse in European football when they were eliminated from the Conference League following a lackluster showing against Czech side Jablonec. After enjoying a 1-0 advantage from the first‑leg encounter at Ibrox, Derek McInnes' squad travelled to the Czech Republic only to produce a display that was bereft of imagination, flair, and any real fighting spirit, ultimately costing them a place in the competition. The match began with Rangers appearing to have the upper hand, but as the game progressed their play became increasingly stagnant.
The team seemed unable to string together passes or create clear chances, and the midfield was overrun by Jablonec’s more energetic unit. When asked about the humiliating defeat, McInnes did not mince words: "I am mortified by the performance.
You can lose games, but we should have had enough quality in the squad to handle this night." A tactical reshuffle at the interval – shifting to a different formation and bringing on captain Lawrence Shankland together with Connor Barron and Findlay Curtis – failed to spark any revival. Jablonec’s midfielder Vakhtang Chanturishvili seized the moment in the 73rd minute, striking a powerful drive that equalised the tie on aggregate and forced the contest into extra time. Neither side managed to break the deadlock during the additional 30 minutes, and the outcome was decided by a penalty shoot‑out.
Rangers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur made a crucial save from Filip Zorvan, but Findlay Curtis missed his spot‑kick, sending his effort over the bar. James Penrice’s attempt was denied by Jablonec keeper Jan Hanus, and ultimately Jan Chramosta converted the winning penalty, sending the Czech side through. The loss is a severe setback for the Glasgow club.
Earlier this season they had already been knocked out of the Europa League qualifiers by Polish outfit Jagiellonia Bialystok, and the ongoing rebuild under McInnes appears to be floundering. For the first time in almost ten years, Rangers will miss out on the group stage of any European competition, a blow that will have financial and sporting repercussions. In the post‑match analysis, McInnes reiterated his embarrassment, praising only the backroom staff and the loyal supporters who continued to back the team despite the disappointment.
"We do a lot behind the scenes to get the players ready and in peak condition. The fans were outstanding, staying behind us even after what we all witnessed. It was not a good performance at any point," he said.
He went on to accept full responsibility while also highlighting the shared nature of the blame. "I’m not going to make excuses. The opposition were better in most aspects, and we got what we deserved. If we had won on penalties we would have celebrated, but we would still have been covering up the cracks," McInnes explained.
He acknowledged the high turnover of players and the inexperience that sometimes showed, but insisted that the ultimate duty to improve lies with him and the squad alike. The reaction from pundits was equally scathing. Sky Sports analyst Kris Boyd described the display as "embarrassing" and "really, really poor" and questioned McInnes' future at the helm.
Boyd pointed to the constant tactical tinkering – shifting from a back four to a back three and back again – as evidence of a lack of confidence and trust between manager and players. "There is zero trust from the manager towards the players, and the players look all over the place.
No confidence," he observed, suggesting that another managerial change might be inevitable. Fans took to social media to voice their outrage, calling the performance one of the poorest in the club's history and demanding a overhaul of the recruitment policy. Some argued that the signings made under McInnes have been overpriced and underperforming, while others called for the return of former manager Steven Gerrard, claiming that McInnes lacks a clear plan for a club of Rangers' stature.
Looking ahead, Rangers now turn their focus to domestic competition, with a crucial Premiership clash against Aberdeen scheduled for Sunday. The defeat has placed additional pressure on the squad to deliver results at home, as the club seeks to salvage a season that now appears to be confined to Scottish football alone.
In summary, the night in the Czech Republic will be remembered as a low point for Rangers: a combination of tactical indecision, poor execution, and missed penalties that saw a club with recent European pedigree exit the continent’s competitions entirely. The onus now lies on Derek McInnes and his players to rebuild confidence, tighten their defensive organization, and rediscover the attacking verve that once made them a regular fixture in European group stages. Only by addressing these shortcomings can Rangers hope to restore their reputation and return to the continental stage in future seasons.