Old habits haunt Rangers in early McInnes tenure

Derek McInnes’ tenure at Rangers has not enjoyed the dream start many hoped for. Following a meek draw against Dundee United in their Scottish Premiership opener, the club suffered a first-leg defeat away to Jagiellonia Bialystok in the Europa League third qualifying round.

Fans viewed McInnes’ appointment as a fresh start after a series of high-profile managerial exits, but the team's ruinous form from last season appears to be lingering. Despite nine summer signings, the manager was clear about his frustrations after the game: "We've seen a lot tonight of what I thought Rangers were last season."

McInnes admitted the team was "guilty of beating ourselves," pointing to a lack of defensive discipline. "We've got to be far more stingy with our work, defend the goal with our lives, and don't give our opponent opportunities," he added. The central defensive pairing of Dujon Sterling and Emmanuel Fernandez struggled significantly, with pundits noting that Fernandez, while talented, lacks the fundamental defensive education required at this level.

One bright spot was the performance of Findlay Curtis. Introduced at halftime, the 20-year-old provided the attacking impetus the side desperately lacked in the first half. His fearless approach and willingness to take on defenders earned praise from former Rangers striker Steven Thompson, who highlighted Curtis's performance as one of the few positives of the evening.