Rangers manager Derek McInnes openly acknowledges that his squad needs to significantly enhance their performance to secure a coveted spot in the group stage of the UEFA Conference League.
On Thursday night at Ibrox, a crucial goal by Ryan Naderi gave Rangers a slender 1-0 advantage in the initial leg of their play-off encounter against Jablonec.
Off the field, Rangers are nearing a substantial £8.5 million agreement to acquire Kim Min-Su, a talented Korean winger currently with La Liga’s Girona.
McInnes conceded that, particularly in the first half, his team faltered in maintaining possession and generating creative play, falling short of expectations.
The match took a further twist 15 minutes before the final whistle when substitute Cammy Devlin received a straight red card for an ill-advised high tackle, reducing Rangers to ten men.
Derek McInnes was unhappy with a few aspects of Rangers’ performance against Jablonec
McInnes had no complaints over that decision – and told his players to buck-up their ideas as they look to secure European football for the season ahead.
‘I was disappointed with a lot of the first half,’ said the Rangers manager. ‘We didn’t have any real impetus or concerted pressure, so I wasn’t happy with it.
‘We needed to bring a bit more intelligence but also be a bit more enthusiastic with some of our tempo and move the ball quicker.
‘I thought we were far better in the second half. We connected the game better and that gave us a far better chance of causing them problems.
‘I don’t think Jablonec caused us too many problems in terms of goalmouth chances. I thought we looked a lot better.
‘Djeidi Gassama has got to score and make it 2-0 with the chance he had, that was a big moment.
‘The red card changed it because then it was about trying to manage the last 15-20 minutes of the game.
‘The positives are a clean sheet, another win, another goal for Ryan Naderi and we’ve got something to take to the Czech Republic.
‘In the bigger picture, we’ve still got a lot of work to do. But, in the meantime, it’s important we win games.
Djeidi Gassama misses from close range as Rangers toiled against Jablonec
‘The enthusiasm and work-rate was there in bucketloads but we need to show a wee bit more composure and poise.
‘I just want us to be better to be honest. I think we have to be better. Normally in Europe, you don’t get through a European tie if you only play well with one leg.
‘We’ve got to make sure we’re as strong as we can be next week, get a stronger performance, and I’m confident we’ve got enough in us to be able to do that.’
Devlin came off the bench as a substitute in the 69th minute. Yet, in his first meaningful contribution, he clattered into Jablonec full-back Jiri Slama.
Rangers midfielder Cammy Devlin is shown a red card shortly after coming on as a substitute
Romanian referee Marian Barbu was referred to the pitchside monitor by the VAR and duly issued the Rangers midfielder with a straight red card.
‘It was a red card, there’s no debate,’ conceded McInnes. ‘I think it looks a hell of a lot worse than it actually was.
‘I think what Cammy’s trying to do, when he’s trying to buy fouls, he’s trying to stick his leg up and put his body in to be held because he’s in the penalty box.
‘He’s obviously trying to feel a contact, but because his leg was up to try and put his body in, it’s caught the boy on the shin. It looks terrible.
‘When you see the stills of it, it looks like a red card all day long. But I think it looks worse than it actually was, if you know what I mean.’
Rangers will not be able to register any more new signings ahead of next week’s second leg in the Czech Republic.
But, with no domestic fixture this weekend, McInnes is hopeful that the club can utilise the time to nail down more transfer targets.
Rangers, who face Aberdeen next weekend upon their return from Jablonec, remain in the market for two more new wingers as well as a new striker, with a deal for Girona’s Min-Su understood to be close.
Rangers hope to conclude an £8.5million deal to sign Girona winger Min-Su
‘We’ll pick up on that straight after the game, with everybody involved,’ added McInnes. ‘We’re trying in a few different areas to get the right players in, players with the right quality.
‘We’ve been really focused on certain ones. I’m quite hopeful we can do one in the next few days. We’re working extremely hard.
‘I do think that having that extra level of pace and quality and invention in the top end of the pitch is going to be massive for us to improve.
‘If we can get that, I’m pretty confident we can. If we can keep getting improvements, we can.
‘I do feel before we go to Pittodrie a week on Sunday, we’d like to have a couple of additions in. The club are well aware of that, everybody’s trying hard.
‘As I said before, these ones [in forward areas] are normally the more difficult ones to get, the ones where you’re paying a bigger-ticket money.
‘But clearly, we could do with that. There’s loads to work on. There’s a lot of stuff in the first half that surprised me that should be a lot better.’