McInnes demands more after delivering Rangers’ trophy chance
Rangers beat Aberdeen 1-0 at Hampden Park to reach the League Cup final, where they will face either Hearts or Hibernian in December. The result gives manager Derek McInnes a chance to win his first major trophy with Rangers at the first attempt, but he says the team must improve despite an 11-match unbeaten run.
Ryan Naderi scored the only goal in the 83rd minute, extending his tally to eight this season. Rangers had 74% possession and 25 shots, but only five were on target; seven clean sheets during their unbeaten run have helped underpin their recovery. McInnes said Rangers need better decision-making and more quality service for Naderi, and argued that reaching cup finals should become a regular expectation at a club that has won only three major trophies since 2012.
In short
- Rangers reached the League Cup final with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen.
- Ryan Naderi scored the winner in the 83rd minute.
- McInnes says Rangers must improve despite an 11-game unbeaten run.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
McInnes is right to demand higher standards: Rangers’ possession and shot volume did not translate into many efforts on target, and Naderi could be better supplied. At a club with Rangers’ history and ambitions, treating cup finals as a regular expectation may help sustain improvement rather than letting an unbeaten run obscure shortcomings.
The case against
Reaching the final after an 11-match unbeaten run, with seven clean sheets, is meaningful progress and gives McInnes a chance to win a major trophy at his first attempt. Some would argue that public demands for more risk undervaluing a resilient semi-final victory and could put unnecessary pressure on a team that is already recovering and delivering results.
Explained simply
The Scottish League Cup is a domestic knockout competition, with clubs playing to reach a final and win a trophy. Hampden Park, in Glasgow, hosts the final, where Rangers will meet one of Edinburgh rivals Hearts or Hibernian.
Derek McInnes is Rangers’ manager, and Ryan Naderi is a forward in his team. Rangers are among Scotland’s most successful clubs, but winning the League Cup would be a significant achievement for McInnes and his players; the club has won three major trophies since 2012.