Rangers manager Derek McInnes is facing mounting pressure after a series of setbacks, but he remains defiant ahead of Thursday's Europa League second leg against Jagiellonia Bialystok. The Ibrox club trails 2-1 from the first leg and is dealing with a double injury blow that has left the squad stretched.
Injury Crisis Deepens
Youssef Chermiti, who was set to become Rangers' record transfer sale with a £25million move to Galatasaray, is now facing nine months out after rupturing his ACL in Sunday's defeat to Hibs. Tuur Rommens also picked up a groin strain, leaving McInnes with only four fit defenders, all right-footed.
Club officials are working to bring in replacements, but new signings will not be available in time for the visit of the Polish side.
McInnes Remains Upbeat
Despite the gloom, McInnes insists he is the right man for the job. "I got the job for a reason," he said. "There are a lot of changes to be made and a lot of turnover in the squad. Of course, it is not going to be as straightforward as I hoped."
He acknowledged the difficulties but stressed the importance of staying positive. "It is my job to keep the spirits up," he added. "We are going to be playing a European game in front of 50,000. If you can't get up for that kind of event…"
Fine Margins Costly
Rangers dominated possession against Hibs but lost 2-1, leaving them five points behind after just two league games. McInnes pointed to the statistics, including 76 per cent possession and numerous shots, but admitted only the result matters.
"It was such a blow for us," he said. "The blow was not just dropping two points, but getting nothing from the game. In the cold light of day, when we analysed the performance, it should have been a winning performance."
Need for Improvement
Looking ahead to the European tie, McInnes identified areas for improvement. "We need to get more bodies in the box," he said. "We need to play with a bit more risk. To be honest, I thought we were a bit too safe for my liking."
He called for greater tempo and urgency, saying the second-half display against Hibs showed what the team can do. "If we can get something similar from the outset, that would be great."
