Derek McInnes is still seeking his first win as Rangers manager after three matches and described his side’s 2-1 home defeat by Hibernian as “really harsh”, while dealing with selection instability and an injury to striker Youssef Chermiti, according to BBC Sport.
- Rangers are winless in their first three games under Derek McInnes (BBC Sport).
- defensive inconsistency and frequent changes to the back four are a central concern (BBC Sport).
- Youssef Chermiti was stretchered off in the home loss to Hibernian; Rangers had earlier rejected a sizeable offer for him (BBC Sport).
- Emmanuel Fernandez has been singled out in media discussion and linked with interest from abroad, but no club confirmation of any sale has been reported (Yahoo News).
- Rangers must balance transfer activity, injury management and finding a settled starting XI as Europa League qualification and domestic form loom.
What has happened so far?
Rangers have played three matches since McInnes took charge and are yet to register a win. The club drew with Dundee United, drew in the Europa League qualifying first leg against jagiellonia Bialystok and lost 2-1 at Ibrox to Hibernian. Across those fixtures they have conceded five goals and scored only a handful, reflecting troubles at both ends of the pitch (BBC Sport).
Key issues: defence, selection and injuries
McInnes has rotated his back four in each game, using nine different combinations across the three matches. That inconsistency has coincided with defensive errors and set-piece and transitional weaknesses that opponents have exploited. BBC Sport notes the manager’s complaints about the team’s unwillingness to be “stingy” in defensive work and his concern the side repeated characteristics that cost them last season.
A further complication is the injury to striker Youssef Chermiti: the forward was taken off on a stretcher in the Hibernian match on the same day the club revealed it had rejected a sizable offer for him. BBC Sport reports the injury will complicate McInnes’s plans as he continues to identify transfer targets and adjust his squad.
Background on personnel and transfer context
McInnes has already overseen a substantial summer intake, with the club registering multiple new signings. He has spoken publicly about active interest in additional players, saying bids are ongoing for several targets and that he hopes to have further news in the coming days (BBC Sport).
One of the centre-backs under scrutiny is Emmanuel Fernandez. Reporting from Yahoo News highlights early-season debate about Fernandez’s performances, noting he has been linked with transfer interest from abroad. That piece points out Fernandez started early fixtures but has been singled out by pundits and commentators as a contributor to the defensive fragility; it also records speculation around potential fees and the need for Rangers to identify replacements if they chose to sell (Yahoo News). The club has not confirmed any outgoing transfer.
Why this matters
Rangers’ slow start matters on three fronts. First, domestic expectations at Ibrox demand immediate results; BBC Sport and commentators cited in that report warned that prolonged winless runs quickly raise pressure at a club of Rangers’ size. Second, early Europa League qualifying is still to be decided: Rangers travel for the second leg against Jagiellonia Bialystok with qualification not yet secured, leaving little margin for error (BBC Sport). Third, the squad is in flux — with new arrivals and transfer speculation — making cohesion a short-term challenge.
Different voices and disputed assessments
McInnes described the Hibernian loss as “really harsh” and insisted his side were the better team in parts of the game, a view reported by BBC Sport. By contrast, some former players and pundits have been more critical of selection and personnel choices: BBC Sport relayed former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan’s observation that McInnes may not yet know his best starting XI, and former Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack warned a third successive winless match can prompt serious questions at a club used to winning domestically.
On Emmanuel Fernandez specifically, Yahoo News relayed commentary urging Rangers to consider selling if strong offers arrived, while also underlining that any sale would require a ready replacement. Those reports reflect a disagreement between talent valuation and immediate team performance; Rangers have not publicly confirmed any transfer negotiations for Fernandez.
What comes next
Rangers face the second leg of their Europa League qualifying tie with Jagiellonia Bialystok, with the tie still to be settled. They also have domestic fixtures to play as McInnes seeks to steady his squad and find a settled back four. The manager has indicated ongoing transfer activity in the short term, which could change available options for selection and address the striker injury concern reported by BBC Sport.
Timeline of the opening days under McInnes
- Opening day: 1-1 draw at Tannadice with Dundee United (BBC Sport).
- Europa League first leg: draw away to Jagiellonia Bialystok (BBC Sport).
- Home league match: 2-1 loss to Hibernian; Chermiti stretchered off and club had rejected a sizeable offer for him that day (BBC Sport).
Practical implications for Rangers
- McInnes needs to identify a stable defensive unit quickly to stop recurring errors and foster cohesion.
- The club must manage transfer windows carefully: selling players who are underperforming could provide funds but would require immediate replacements.
- Injury management — particularly for Chermiti — will be important for attacking options, though no medical timetable has been reported.
Bottom line
Rangers’ 2026-27 campaign has begun with frustration for Derek McInnes and the squad: three matches without a win, recurring defensive lapses and an untimely injury to a key forward. The manager has defended parts of his side’s performance while acknowledging the result was a setback; the club faces important decisions on selection, potential transfers and recovery in both domestic and European fixtures. Reporting so far comes from BBC Sport and Yahoo News; the club has not issued contradictory official statements on the matters of player sales or the precise status of Emmanuel Fernandez beyond the coverage summarised here.