Rangers have been eliminated from all European competition, leaving them five points adrift of league leaders Celtic even before September rolls around. The disappointment has amplified the scrutiny on both the playing group and head coach Derek McInnes at Ibrox. McInnes now prepares to lead his revamped side to Pittodrie on Sunday for a televised clash against his former club, Aberdeen, on Sky Sports. The central question is whether McInnes can spark a response from a squad he himself has described as struggling, and what underlying factors are contributing to the club’s current malaise.
**What has been the reaction?** McInnes publicly expressed that he felt "mortified" and "embarrassed" after the 1‑0 loss to Jablonec. The statistics underline his sentiment: only one 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, making the defeat even more shocking. Sky Sports analyst Kris Boyd labeled the performance an "all‑time low" for the Glasgow giants. McInnes accepted full responsibility, admitting his players were "miles short" of the standards required. The reality is stark – Rangers will not feature in any European group stage this campaign, a scenario not seen since 2017.
Fans are quick to point fingers. Some blame the manager, others target the players, but the truth is that the defeat reflects a collective shortfall. After securing a 1‑0 win in the first leg, Rangers enjoyed a clear week to prepare, even requesting 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 made three changes – a pattern that has emerged repeatedly this term. The half‑time alterations did little to alter the game’s trajectory. Throughout the 120 minutes, McInnes experimented with different shapes and personnel, but none of the tweaks produced the desired effect.
Post‑match, he conceded that his side looked uncomfortable on the ball, lacked potency on the counter‑attack, and appeared uneasy when forced to play a direct style. Boyd suggested that the frequency of changes indicates a lack of trust from McInnes in certain players, which in turn has eroded their confidence.
**How dire is this start?** Every season presents its own challenges, yet a comparative lens reveals a worrying trend for McInnes. His predecessor, Russell Martin, began the previous season with three wins and one loss in his first seven games before being dismissed after another ten fixtures.
Danny Rohl, who succeeded Martin in October, recorded four wins and three defeats over the same span before departing for RB Salzburg. In contrast, McInnes’s record stands at two victories and three defeats from his first seven matches – the poorest start among his recent predecessors. **What lies ahead?** The next test is a trip to Aberdeen, a club McInnes knows intimately, with the game broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The outcome could shape the narrative for the weeks that follow. **Calm or change?** Historically, a poor opening to the season can quickly erode patience among Ibrox supporters. Some fans are already calling for decisive action, while others argue that constant managerial turnover – seven permanent bosses in under five years – is unsustainable and that stability is needed to rebuild. The underlying issues may extend beyond the touchline.
Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and the American ownership group have publicly pledged "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 club. Celtic’s dominance over the past 15 seasons (14 league titles) underscores the urgency. In the most recent campaign, Rangers finished third, even trailing a Hearts side managed by McInnes himself. Behind the scenes, Ibrox has undergone significant restructuring: a new CEO, revamped recruitment processes, and a fresh managerial appointment.
Cavenagh recently conceded that the season’s start fell short of expectations but expressed greater optimism now than a year ago. This suggests that a period of calm might be the prudent path forward, at least temporarily.
**Will the board continue to back McInnes?** All signs point to continued support. The ownership would not have authorized the substantial summer spending – twelve new signings and a reported £9.2 million deal for striker Kevin Kelsy from Portland Timbers – without confidence in the manager’s vision.
Chief executive Jim Gillespie, who led the recruitment of McInnes, described him as the "only one name that ticked all the boxes" when he was poached from Hearts in June. Gillespie has been clear that results must improve swiftly, yet he remains convinced that McInnes can restore Rangers to glory.
The club’s transfer activity reflects a long‑term plan: after the winter window, further reinforcements are expected to address the squad’s youth and inexperience, a point McInnes highlighted after the Jablonec loss. **The road ahead is packed with fixtures** Rangers have little time to regroup. After Aberdeen, they travel to Falkirk on Wednesday, then host Motherwell the following Saturday – all matches televised on Sky Sports. The international break offers a brief respite before the Old Firm fixtures: a League Cup tie at Ibrox on September 13 and a Premiership showdown at Celtic Park a week later, both on Sky Sports.
In summary, Rangers face a crucial period. The club’s leadership appears willing to give McInnes time, provided he can translate the significant investment in players into tangible improvement on the pitch.
The coming weeks will test whether the squad can shed the early‑season gloom, rediscover confidence, and begin to close the gap on Celtic and the rest of the Scottish Premiership.