'Mortified' McInnes takes responsibility for Rangers' European exit
Rangers crashed out of Europe after a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat in the Czech Republic, leaving manager Derek McInnes deeply remorseful.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Rangers lost 4-3 on penalties to exit European competition entirely.
- Manager Derek McInnes admitted full responsibility for the dismal result.
- Statistics showed Rangers managed only one shot on target over 120 minutes.
Rangers crashed out of European competition on Thursday following a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout defeat in the Czech Republic, extinguishing their continental ambitions completely after holding a 1-0 aggregate lead going into the second leg.
Derek McInnes' side initially seized the advantage in the shootout before Findlay Curtis and James Penrice failed to convert their decisive spot-kicks. The elimination leaves the Scottish giants without European football past August for the first time since their 2017 Europa League qualifying defeat to Luxembourg's Progres Niederkorn.
The crushing defeat ratchets up intense pressure on McInnes following a disastrous start to his tenure at Ibrox, which previously featured a Europa League exit against Jagiellonia Bialystok alongside a draw and a loss in their opening two Premiership fixtures.
"The only people who represented the club well tonight were my staff and the supporters who were outstanding, getting behind the team despite watching what we all watched."
Derek McInnes
Match statistics starkly validate the manager's frustration, recording that Rangers possessed the ball for just over 46 percent across 120 minutes in the Czech Republic while mustering a mere single shot on target.
Early exits from European tournaments carry severe financial and reputational repercussions for legacy clubs like Rangers, where matchday revenues and UEFA prize money form a critical pillar of the operational budget. The mounting scrutiny on Derek McInnes highlights the unforgiving nature of top-tier football management where poor squad cohesion directly threatens club ambitions.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson highlighted the team's toothless display, noting that recording a single shot on target across two hours of football tells the complete story of their lack of attacking threat. Meanwhile, BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English criticised the squad's passive demeanour and total absence of on-field leadership.
Source: BBC Sport
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