'Mortified' McInnes admits Rangers deserved European exit
Rangers manager Derek McInnes took responsibility for his team's performance after their European exit in the Czech Republic, with pundits calling the result one of the club's worst in recent history.
Rangers manager Derek McInnes offered a blunt assessment of his side's performance following their elimination from Europe after a 120-minute contest in the Czech Republic. The team held just over 46% possession and managed only a single shot on target across the entire match.
Rangers won fewer than 70% of their 16 tackles and were penalised for 17 fouls. McInnes said the team could not accept losing individual duels, battles for second balls, and failing to seize control of the game's momentum.
He described the side as looking young and inexperienced, acknowledging the club is working on bringing in new signings but stressing that broader improvements are needed across the team. McInnes said the defeat was deserved, adding that even a penalty-shootout win would only have masked deeper problems.
He also confirmed no offer has yet arrived for absent midfielder Nico Raskin. The exit followed two prior wins for Rangers — 5-1 over St Mirren in the League Cup and 1-0 against Jablonec at Ibrox — after the club had drawn with Dundee United and lost at home to Hibernian in its opening two league matches of the season.
Former players react
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday said the team showed no style, desire, movement or control, comparing the loss to some of the club's historically poor European results. Former striker Steven Thompson noted that managing just one shot on target in 120 minutes spoke volumes about the team's lack of threat, adding that the players lacked both quality and a clear game plan.
BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English observed that the team appeared passive throughout, with no player stepping up to rally teammates despite McInnes trying several tactical changes during the match.
