Derek McInnes, Rangers manager, has directly admitted that the current makeup of his squad deviates significantly from the standard and quality he wishes to achieve. Although the 55-year-old coach is convinced he possesses the necessary skills to bring success to Ibrox, the reality on the pitch shows that Rangers are still far from the team he envisions. McInnes expressed regret after Thursday's match regarding his side's struggle to find an identity, grappling with dilemmas over whether to play with possession, on the counter-attack, or directly.
Rangers were eliminated from European competition this season after losing the Conference League play-off to the Czech club Jablonec, with the decision going to penalties. The situation in the domestic league is also tense, having secured only one point from their first two Scottish Premiership matches. Their next challenge is a visit to Aberdeen on Sunday, but McInnes emphasised that he is not the first Rangers manager to begin his tenure with a difficult start, and that the final assessment matters more than current results.
The key issue for McInnes is a lack of intensity in the attacking phase of play. The coach believes the players have good technical abilities with the ball but lack composure in possession. He wants the team to apply greater pressure on the opposition's defence and play with a high press, which they are not currently doing well enough. McInnes told Sky Sports that he feels no one is currently doing their job well enough, but simultaneously stressed that the players work extremely hard and need additional help and support.
The transfer window, which closes next week, is crucial for addressing these issues. Rangers have so far signed twelve players, and McInnes hopes to sign a few more reinforcements while expecting the departure of one or two players. The coach believes that two additional signings could help achieve the desired level of play, particularly given that striker Youssef Chermiti is currently injured. McInnes stated that one does not come to Rangers unless one is a talented player, but that there is currently much uncertainty which will settle once the window closes.
Despite the challenges, Rangers have progressed in the League Cup and will host Celtic in the quarter-finals next month. McInnes, a former manager of Aberdeen, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone, expressed his determination to continue with the job. He believes things will become calmer once the transfer window closes, and his final message is that he is ready to work on building a team that will meet the club's ambitions.
