Rangers' Derek McInnes aims to deepen Celtic's misery after humiliating European exit

Rangers manager Derek McInnes, whose 800‑plus games in charge have taught him how quickly fortunes can reverse, is now determined to add to Celtic’s misery this weekend after steering his side from a mortifying UEFA Conference League exit to Jablonec to a string of five victories.

European humiliation and early pressure

McInnes’s tenure at Rangers began under a cloud, with his first couple of months proving a classic case of rapid pressure shift. Only weeks earlier he oversaw one of the club’s most humiliating European results, a UEFA Conference League exit to Czech side Jablonec, which he described as mortifying. After returning from the Czech Republic he led Rangers to a 1‑0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, a match that arrived as fans were openly questioning his position.

The piece, penned by CALUM CROWE, SCOTTISH DEPUTY CHIEF SPORTS WRITER, appeared on 18 September 2026. McInnes admitted he is “one bad result away from getting a belt in the mouth again”, underscoring how thin the margin for error remains. Across the city, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill faces his own crisis after a 3‑1 Europa League loss to Ferencvaros on Thursday night, heightening the stakes for the upcoming derby.

Cup success and derby build‑up

A 1‑0 triumph at Pittodrie sparked a run of five straight victories, the latest seeing Rangers eliminate Celtic from the Premier Sports Cup last weekend. The win was celebrated as the club booked a semi‑final spot, with McInnes warning that “nobody is baw‑headed enough to get carried away”. If Celtic lose again at Parkhead tomorrow, supporters are expected to call for O’Neill’s dismissal, although Celtic remain top of the league regardless of the result.

“Yeah, I think you’re constantly aware of that,” McInnes said, adding that at Rangers “you’re only one bad result away from getting a belt in the mouth again”. He stressed the need to keep “the shoulder to the wheel”, reminding his squad that they were not long ago in a “tough spot”. The manager wants his players to close the gap on Celtic to two points and to “go for the jugular” in the derby.

McInnes praised the recent performance as the most aggressive and intense display of his era, suggesting it could be the foundation of a new identity. He warned that identity only matters if applied consistently, and that a single dominant afternoon means little without a half‑hearted follow‑up. The upcoming match offers a chance to press home the advantage while Celtic are still reeling from their European setbacks.

Mid‑week a photo circulated of several Rangers players sharing a coffee, a scene McInnes said he appreciated. “My son told me about it,” he explained, noting he had spoken to Nico Raskin who confirmed the lads were out together “a couple of times now”. He added that he “doesn’t really care what they’re doing, to be honest”, as long as the squad stays close.

A defeat would leave Rangers eight points behind Celtic heading into the international break, a sizeable margin in September. McInnes knows that even a big win “means little if the follow‑up is half‑hearted”, and he intends to avoid any hint of complacency. The derby therefore represents a pivotal moment for both clubs as the season accelerates across Europe.