'Mortified' McInnes takes responsibility for Rangers' European exit
August 27, 2026 20:23
Rangers were eliminated from European competition after losing a Europa Conference League play-off to Jablonec on penalties, going out 4-3 in the shootout despite carrying a 1-0 first-leg lead into the Czech Republic. Manager Derek McInnes accepted full responsibility for what he described as an embarrassing exit, and criticised the team's overall performance.
The shootout ended with misses from Findlay Curtis and James Penrice that proved decisive. Rangers finished the tie with just over 46% possession across 120 minutes and only one shot on target.
KEY CONTEXT
This elimination means Rangers will not have European football beyond August for the first time since their 2017 Europa League first qualifying-round defeat by Progres Niederkorn. McInnes’s tenure at Ibrox has already included an earlier Europa League exit to Jagiellonia Bialystok and a mixed domestic start — a draw and a defeat in the opening two Premiership fixtures — alongside two recent wins (a 5-1 League Cup victory over St Mirren and the 1-0 first-leg win over Jablonec).
WHY IT MATTERS
The defeat compounds a troubled start to McInnes’s reign and raises questions about squad experience and preparation: the manager himself cited a heavy turnover of players and called the performance lacking in many areas. The statistical picture — limited possession and a single shot on target in 120 minutes — underlines the team’s inability to assert itself in a tie they had been favoured to progress from.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Confirmed next steps from the source: McInnes said the club are attempting to add players to address the inexperience he identified and stated no bid had yet been received for the absent Nico Raskin. What remains to be seen is whether transfer activity arrives to bolster the squad and how McInnes and the team will respond domestically after this setback.
KEY FACTS
- Rangers lost the Europa Conference League play-off to Jablonec on penalties, 4-3, after a 1-0 first-leg lead.
- Findlay Curtis and James Penrice each missed decisive penalties in the shootout.
- Rangers registered just over 46% possession across 120 minutes and had one shot on target.
- Derek McInnes took "full responsibility" for the result and said the performance "lacked in everything."
- It is the club’s first absence from European football beyond August since 2017 (after defeat by Progres Niederkorn).
- McInnes confirmed no bid has yet been received for Nico Raskin and said the club are looking to make signings.