Derek McInnes’ long-awaited opportunity to manage Rangers has begun with a difficult reminder of the scale of the task awaiting him at Ibrox.
The new Rangers boss is still searching for his first victory after two competitive matches, with a disappointing Scottish Premiership draw at Dundee United followed by a 2-1 defeat away to Jagiellonia Bialystok in the first leg of their Europa League third-round qualifier.
McInnes arrived with considerable expectations after the club’s recent managerial instability, but familiar weaknesses have already resurfaced. Despite nine summer signings and the prospect of further additions, Rangers have struggled to shake off the problems that undermined them last season.
The defeat in Poland was particularly concerning because of how easily Jagiellonia were able to create chances, especially during a poor first-half performance in which Rangers repeatedly exposed themselves on the counter-attack.
Old Defensive Problems Return
Rangers’ difficulties were not simply the result of individual mistakes. Their defensive structure repeatedly allowed the hosts to break into dangerous areas, while possession was lost too cheaply in attacking positions.
One example came midway through the first half when Thelo Aasgaard attempted an ambitious turn near the Jagiellonia penalty area. Rangers quickly lost possession and, within moments, the Polish side had punished them with a fast counter-attack.
It was the type of sequence that became increasingly familiar during Rangers’ struggles last season.
McInnes was particularly frustrated by the ease with which his team conceded opportunities. His message after the match centred on the need for greater discipline, concentration and determination when defending their own penalty area.
Rangers have shown in recent seasons that they are capable of producing fluent attacking football, but their inability to consistently protect themselves without the ball has repeatedly damaged their chances of competing for major honours.
Neither Russell Martin nor Danny Rohl managed to solve those problems during their spells in charge, and McInnes now faces the same challenge.
Centre-Back Partnership Under Pressure
Dujon Sterling and Emmanuel Fernandez endured an uncomfortable evening at the heart of the Rangers defence.
The pair looked vulnerable when Jagiellonia attacked quickly, with their positioning and decision-making contributing to Rangers’ first-half instability.
Fernandez in particular attracted criticism after another uncertain performance. The defender possesses many of the physical qualities required at a high level, but his understanding of defensive situations remains an area Rangers may need to address quickly.
With McInnes currently short of alternative options in central defence, the manager may have little choice but to continue working with the existing partnership while the club considers further transfer business.
Triple Change Transforms Rangers
Rangers looked significantly more competitive after the break following an aggressive response from McInnes.
Cammy Devlin, Findlay Curtis and Nicolas Raskin were all introduced at half-time, and the triple substitution immediately gave the visitors greater energy and attacking intent.
Curtis provided the biggest spark.
The 20-year-old repeatedly tried to run directly at defenders, combine with team-mates and create openings rather than simply recycling possession. He struck the post late in the match and also sent another effort narrowly wide as Rangers pushed for a way back into the tie.
His impact was particularly notable given his limited involvement in the opening league fixture at Dundee United, where he was given only eight minutes.
Curtis had impressed during a loan spell with Kilmarnock in the second half of last season and subsequently earned a place in Scotland’s World Cup squad. His showing in Poland suggested he could now become a far more important part of McInnes’ plans.
Curtis Offers Much-Needed Attacking Threat
Rangers currently lack consistent creativity and unpredictability in wide areas, making Curtis’ direct approach especially valuable.
Rather than immediately looking for a safe pass, he regularly attempted to beat his marker, make forward runs and attack the penalty area. His willingness to take risks gave Rangers greater momentum and helped shift the balance of the game after the interval.
Although not everything he attempted was successful, his introduction increased the tempo of Rangers’ attacking play and provided one of the few clear positives from an otherwise frustrating night.
McInnes now has a major decision to make ahead of the return leg. Rangers must overturn a one-goal deficit, but more importantly they need to show that the defensive weaknesses of last season are not going to define another campaign.
Two matches into his tenure, McInnes is already discovering that rebuilding Rangers will require much more than new signings. The early evidence suggests the club still has significant work to do both defensively and in restoring the intensity expected at Ibrox.