Old habits haunt Rangers in early McInnes tenure

Derek McInnes arrived at Ibrox with a mandate to restore order after years of managerial turbulence, but the early returns suggest old ghosts still linger. Two matches, no wins, and a Europa League qualifier already slipping away in Poland – the new Rangers boss faces an immediate reckoning. The 2-1 defeat to Jagiellonia Białystok follows a goalless draw at Dundee United in the Premiership opener, leaving McInnes’ side with just a single point from their first two fixtures of the 2024-25 season.

Familiar frailties resurface in Poland

Jagiellonia Białystok exposed the same defensive fragility that blighted Rangers’ 2023-24 campaign, scoring twice in the opening 13 minutes to set the tone. The visitors’ first goal arrived after Thelo Aasgaard attempted an audacious spin on the edge of the hosts’ box, slipping the ball through a narrow gap in the defence before Aaron Doran slotted home. Twelve minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage when a moment of indecision in midfield allowed Damian Kapustka to exploit the space between centre-backs John Souttar and Ben Davies, before firing low past Jack Butland. McInnes’ post-match assessment was blunt: “We’ve seen a lot tonight of what I thought Rangers were last season.” The defeat, a 2-1 reverse, leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg at Ibrox, but the damage is done.

The loss compounds a dismal start to the season, following a goalless draw at Dundee United in the Premiership opener. Nine summer signings have arrived at Ibrox this summer – including defenders Jack Aitchison, Liam Scales and Ross McCrorie, midfielders Ryan Kent and Ryan Strain, and forwards Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers – yet the early impression is of a team still struggling to recalibrate. McInnes’ predecessor, Russell Martin, lasted just 10 months; Danny Rohl’s tenure was even shorter. The new manager’s challenge is to break that cycle before frustration takes hold.

Self-inflicted wounds derail promising spells

McInnes singled out Rangers’ profligacy as the decisive factor. “We are guilty of beating ourselves tonight,” he admitted, pointing to “too many chances” conceded and “too much encouragement” given to opponents. The first goal, a swift counter, underlined how quickly defensive lapses can be punished. “There’s no bigger drain on confidence than losing cheap goals,” he added, framing the issue as both tactical and psychological. The second goal, born from hesitation in midfield, highlighted a recurring inability to transition quickly enough to prevent counters. McInnes’ insistence that “at no cost is that ball going in our box” underscored the urgency of addressing these lapses.

The defeat in Poland was not just about the result; it was about the manner of it. Rangers’ midfield looked disjointed, their transitions hesitant, and their defensive shape alarmingly porous. McInnes’ plea for greater “stinginess” in defending reflects a club-wide need to rediscover the ruthlessness that once defined their best performances. Without it, even the most expensive recruits will struggle to justify their price tags. The manager’s frustration was palpable: “We have got to be far more stingy with our work, defend the goal with our lives, don’t give our opponent opportunities.”

The tactical crossroads

McInnes’ approach at Hearts relied on compact defending and rapid transitions, a system that nearly delivered promotion. Transplanting that philosophy to Rangers has not been seamless. The Ibrox side’s high line, once a hallmark of their best spells under Steven Gerrard, now looks vulnerable when the midfield is overrun. Jagiellonia’s two early goals exposed the gaps between defence and midfield, leaving centre-backs exposed in space they cannot recover from. The manager’s insistence on “defending the goal with our lives” suggests a tactical pivot is coming. Whether that means a deeper block, more conservative personnel, or stricter positional discipline remains to be seen.

What is clear is that Rangers cannot afford another performance where defensive errors gift opponents easy chances. The Europa League is unforgiving; the Premiership will not wait. The second leg against Jagiellonia looms as a critical test – not just of McInnes’ man-management, but of whether this squad can shed the habits that have haunted them for too long. The fans, desperate for stability, will be watching closely.

A second chance to prove the doubters wrong

Rangers still have the personnel to turn this around, but time is short. The squad’s collective experience – from Butland’s command of the box to Souttar’s leadership at the back – remains a strength, but it is being undermined by avoidable errors. McInnes’ challenge is twofold: to instil a mentality where defensive concentration is non-negotiable, and to refine a system that can absorb pressure without collapsing. The early signs are troubling, but the real danger lies in normalising mediocrity. Rangers cannot afford to be the team that beats itself before the opposition even arrives.

McInnes’ tenure is at a crossroads. The next fortnight will define whether his appointment marks a turning point or merely another false dawn in Govan.