McInnes Hopes Rangers Build on Victory Over Jablonec
Rangers manager Derek McInnes hopes his team can take confidence from their first-leg victory over FK Jablonec as they bid for a place in the UEFA Conference League league phase. The team's 2-0 win over Falkirk on May 16th, 2026, was their last result, and they are currently on a 2-game winning run.
McInnes reflected on the game, praising his team's second-half performance and expressing hope for a strong showing in the return leg. He said: "I am disappointed with some aspects of it, but we have got to try and take the positives from the game in the sense that I thought we deserved our win."
The manager also praised his team's goal-scorer, Ryan Naderi, who scored his second goal in two games. McInnes said: "What you find is he played with a front two last season for the majority with big Youssef, and at times he was a handful. For me, he will score off crosses and it is so important that we get to bylines more, we get to where we need to get to on the pitch because I do think that he is a striker who will thrive on that kind of service."
Rangers are currently 2nd in the Premiership, with 69 points from 33 games, and are 1 point behind leaders Heart of Midlothian in the title race. They have scored 66 goals and conceded 31 this season, with a +35 goal difference. The team is currently sidelined by injuries to Ben Godfrey, Youssef Chermiti, and José Cifuentes.
What happened?
Rangers won their first-leg match against FK Jablonec in the UEFA Conference League play-off, with a 2-0 victory. The team's second-half performance was praised by manager Derek McInnes, who expressed hope for a strong showing in the return leg.
Why it matters for Rangers
The victory gives Rangers a narrow advantage to take to the Czech Republic next week, and McInnes hopes his team can take confidence from the win. He praised his team's goal-scorer, Ryan Naderi, and expressed hope for a strong showing in the return leg.
What comes next?
Rangers will face FK Jablonec in the return leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off, with the team hoping to build on their first-leg victory. McInnes expressed hope for a strong showing in the return leg, and praised his team's second-half performance.
You can check on Rangers' upcoming fixtures on our fixtures page, and get the latest squad news on our squad page. The team's current league standing is 2nd in the Premiership, with 69 points from 33 games, and they are 1 point behind leaders Heart of Midlothian in the title race.
Rangers have scored 66 goals and conceded 31 this season, with a +35 goal difference. The team is currently sidelined by injuries to Ben Godfrey, Youssef Chermiti, and José Cifuentes.
