‘Mortified’ McInnes takes responsibility for Rangers’ European exit
Rangers were knocked out of the Conference League by Jablonec after losing 4-3 on penalties in the second leg of their play-off in the Czech Republic, despite taking a 1-0 aggregate lead into the match. Manager Derek McInnes called the performance embarrassing and accepted full responsibility, saying the team did not match the club’s standards in preparation or execution. The exit leaves Rangers without European football beyond August for the first time since 2017 and intensifies pressure after an unconvincing start to McInnes’ tenure.
Rangers briefly led the shoot-out before Findlay Curtis and James Penrice missed their final penalties, while the side managed only one shot on target over 120 minutes and had 46% possession. McInnes cited the squad’s turnover and inexperience but declined to use either as an excuse, saying Jablonec deserved to progress and that a Rangers victory would have concealed deeper problems. Former players Andy Halliday and Steven Thompson criticised Rangers’ lack of threat, control and intensity, with Halliday describing it as among the club’s worst recent results.
In short
- Rangers lost to Jablonec on penalties and exited Europe.
- McInnes accepted full responsibility for the poor performance.
- The defeat increases pressure after a difficult start.
Explained simply
Rangers are a Glasgow football club with a long record in domestic and European competitions. The Conference League is a European tournament for clubs that do not qualify for the continent’s top competitions, and its play-offs decide which teams reach the main tournament.
Derek McInnes is Rangers’ manager, responsible for preparing the team and choosing how it plays. A changing squad can take time to settle, but expectations at a major club such as Rangers remain high, so performances in Europe can shape confidence in the manager and the direction of the season.