Rangers’ poor start to the season has continued with a 2-1 defeat to Jagiellonia Białystok in the Europa League, leaving manager Derek McInnes to admit that his squad lacks quality. The loss marks the third game in a row that McInnes’ side have failed to win, following a 1-1 draw with Dundee United and a defeat to Hibernian. It’s a winless start to life in charge for McInnes, and he’s aware that his team needs to step up if they want to compete. McInnes hasn’t been helped by the fact that Rangers currently have a squad of squad players, rather than starters, and he knows that this lack of quality is a major factor in their struggles.
Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland has seen enough from his side to believe they are heading in the right direction, despite the recent run of poor results. Shankland, who joined the Glasgow club earlier this summer, thinks that the biggest thing that went wrong in the defeat to Hibernian was that Rangers didn’t win. He’s right, of course – the team’s inability to pick up three points has been a major problem, and it’s something that McInnes is working to address. Shankland also believes that McInnes hasn’t helped himself, but the manager is focused on getting his team back on track.
The defeat to Jagiellonia Białystok was a tough one for Rangers to take, especially after they’d taken an early lead. However, the Polish side fought back to win 2-1, leaving McInnes to ponder what might have been. It’s not all bad news for Scottish football, though – Hibernian are currently three points clear of reigning champions Celtic at the top of the Premiership, and they’re in pole position to win the title. McInnes, meanwhile, is just focused on getting his team to win their next game, against Motherwell. He knows that it won’t be easy, but he’s confident that his players can get the job done.
McInnes is aware that his team needs to improve, and he’s working hard to make that happen. He’s told his players to concentrate on trying to win against Motherwell, rather than getting distracted by the bigger picture. It’s a sensible approach, given the circumstances, and it’s one that could pay off if Rangers can get back to winning ways. The team’s mentality is good, according to McInnes, and he’s confident that they can turn things around. With Shankland on board, and McInnes at the helm, Rangers have the potential to do great things – but for now, they just need to focus on getting that first win.
As the season wears on, Rangers will be looking to bounce back from their poor start. They’ve got the talent and the experience to compete with the best teams in Scotland, but they need to start showing it on the pitch. McInnes is the right man for the job, and he’s got the backing of his players. Now, all they need to do is start winning, and they’ll be back on track in no time. With the Europa League and the Premiership to compete in, Rangers have a busy schedule ahead of them – but they’re ready for the challenge. They just need to believe in themselves, and they’ll be unstoppable.
