Rangers’ defensive woes surface as Manny Fernandez slips in Poland

The Chorten Arena in north‑east Poland was a sea of nervous anticipation as 1,027 Rangers supporters watched Jagiellonia Bialystok host the Scottish side. Six‑foot‑four Manny Fernandez, a defender praised for his pace and physicality, stood out in the crowd, his stature a stark contrast to the chilly evening.

By JOHN MCGARRY, SCOTTISH CHIEF SPORTS FEATURE WRITER. Published: 20:25 BST, 6 August 2026 | Updated: 20:34 BST, 6 August 2026.

Fernandez’s height and athleticism have long suggested he could be a top defender, yet Rangers’ perspective now points to a missing piece of the puzzle – his attitude. The club’s own analysis describes this shortfall as the key part of the jigsaw currently absent.

At Tannadice last Friday, Fernandez sauntered back up the field as Dundee United scored, a goal that cost Derek McInnes’s side two points. In Poland, his attitude again faltered; twice in eight minutes he mis‑read a low cross, contributed to an own‑goal, and then slipped while defending a second cross, allowing the Poles to double their lead.

Back in April, rumours linked the 24‑year‑old with moves to Arsenal or West Ham, but his recent performances have done little to convince. Former Ibrox midfielder Andy Halliday later spoke of individuals at the club who seemed reluctant to defend, without naming anyone directly.

At the age of 24, Fernandez appears not to have grasped that commitment and mindset for a full 90‑plus minutes are non‑negotiable, and McInnes is reportedly tired of repeatedly addressing the issue.

Thelo Aasgaard, once hailed as ‘the man’ on Tayside, regressed to last season’s level, while Dan Neil and Tochi Chukwuani failed to impose themselves enough for a start in the return leg. In contrast, Findlay Curtis impressed from the bench, and the return of Nico Raskin at halftime lifted the team’s spirit.

Rangers’ fans numbered just 1,027 inside the arena, a modest turnout for what many hoped would be the first of many foreign adventures. McInnes responded by making five changes: debutant Daisuke Yokota arrived from Hannover, Ross McCrorie replaced the injured Ben Godfrey, Neil and Chukwuani were introduced into midfield, and Youssef Chermiti was tasked with leading the line.

McInnes identified Jagiellonia’s narrow formation and instructed his wide players to stretch the flanks. Inside four minutes, Tuur Rommens delivered a cross that caught Guilherme Montoia in panic, resulting in an own‑goal. Later, Fernandez’s mis‑timed tackle sent the ball into his own net, and a second Poles’ goal followed after he lost footing on a crucial defensive moment.

The defeat underscores a deeper defensive crisis for Rangers, with Fernandez’s repeated lapses emblematic of broader attitude issues that could jeopardise the club’s Europa League ambitions.