Mortified McInnes watches Rangers’ Europe exit after penalty drama

Rangers manager Derek McInnes said he was mortified after his side were eliminated from Europe when FK Jablonec overturned a 1‑0 first‑leg lead in the Conference League play‑off, forcing extra‑time and a penalty shootout in the Czech Republic in a night of abject humiliation.

First‑leg advantage erased

Rangers entered the second leg in the Czech Republic holding a 1‑0 advantage from the first‑leg win in Glasgow. Vakhtang Chanturishvili scored in the second half to level the aggregate and send the tie into extra‑time. The equaliser erased the lead and set up a penalty shootout.

Penalty miss seals exit

In the ensuing shootout, Findlay Curtis and James Penrice both failed to convert their spot‑kicks. Their misses allowed FK Jablonec to progress, eliminating Rangers from the Conference League.

McInnes takes responsibility

‘First of all, I’m embarrassed with the performance,’ said McInnes. He said the poor start had plunged the Ibrox club into new depths and that he felt mortified.

‘I think the only people who represented the club well tonight were my staff, the support staff in the preparation… And the supporters, who to a man were outstanding, getting behind the team despite watching what we all watched.’ He added that the performance was not good enough by any stretch of the imagination.

The account was filed by CALUM CROWE, SCOTTISH DEPUTY CHIEF SPORTS WRITER, on 27 August 2026. He recorded McInnes’ admission of mortification after the penalty defeat.

Rangers were without Belgian midfielder Nico Raskin, who remained in Glasgow amid recent transfer interest. McInnes said no bids had been received yet, but the absence was not an excuse for the result.

It means Rangers will have no European football this season, the first time since the 2017 defeat to Progres Niederkorn. That 2017 setback remains one of the club’s most embarrassing European results.

With a trip to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday now looking like a must‑win, McInnes warned his players must improve. He stressed that the squad must buck up their ideas to avoid further low points.

‘Our press wasn’t good enough. When the press was good and we went man for man, we weren’t strong enough in the challenges. We weren’t strong enough to win second balls. We didn’t win tackles. It just wasn’t anywhere near good enough.’ Rangers captain Lawrence Shankland, who stood beside the penalty missers, echoed the disappointment.

McInnes described the night as a low point, saying he was gutted for the supporters. He accepted full responsibility while urging the players to help themselves.