Rangers have been eliminated from Europa League qualifying after a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok. The Scottish club drew 1-1 at Ibrox in the second leg, which followed a 2-1 loss in the first leg.
The result extends manager Derek McInnes‘ winless start with Rangers to four games. Following the match, McInnes acknowledged that the team’s performance, particularly in the second half, was not sufficient.
Ibrox encounter sees Rangers fall short
The second leg at Ibrox saw Rangers initially cancel out their opponents’ first-leg advantage. A penalty was awarded after a VAR review for a handball by former Celtic defender Yuki Kobayashi. Lawrence Shankland, making his debut since his summer move from Hearts, converted the spot-kick to level the aggregate score.
Despite taking an early lead on the night, Rangers were unable to build on it. Thelo Aasgaard had a shot that went wide, and Ryan Naderi also came close to scoring before half-time. However, a subdued second-half display ultimately proved costly for the Glasgow side.
Jagiellonia Bialystok secured their progression when Nik Prelec scored in the 55th minute, restoring their aggregate lead. Prelec, who previously made 24 appearances for Oxford, headed home to put the Polish team ahead. Rangers were unable to find an equaliser, and the full-time whistle was met with boos from the home crowd.
McInnes admitted that the fan reaction was justified, stating, “It wasn’t good enough. What we served up, particularly second half, wasn’t good enough.” He also suggested that the current squad might not be adequately prepared for the demands of Europa League football, indicating a need for more quality and confidence within the team.
Focus shifts to Conference League
This early exit marks Rangers‘ earliest departure from the Europa League competition since 2017. The club will now drop into the Conference League play-off round. Their next European fixture will be against Jablonec, a team that finished fifth in the Czech top flight last season.
The first leg of the Conference League play-off is scheduled to take place at Ibrox on August 20. Ahead of the second leg against Jagiellonia Bialystok, McInnes had urged his players to deliver a strong European performance, emphasising the importance of putting pressure on the opposition.
The manager had also spoken about the need for the team to pull through a difficult period, especially after a challenging home result in the Scottish Premiership. He highlighted the importance of getting more players into the box and playing with more risk and tempo. McInnes noted that the team’s tempo was better in the second half of the first leg, leading to more opportunities.
He stressed the need for a strong counter-press and solid defending when attacking, ensuring all players are focused. The manager’s plan was for the team to get through the tie, believing it would help everyone feel more positive. He also mentioned the presence of many new signings in the squad, with players motivated to perform for Rangers.
The match saw several key moments, including the VAR decision for the penalty in the 17th minute and Shankland‘s goal two minutes later. Aasgaard‘s close attempt in the 35th minute was followed by a half-time substitution where Ross McCrorie replaced Aasgaard. Prelec‘s decisive goal came in the 55th minute, ultimately sealing Rangers‘ fate in the competition.
Rangers will now prepare to face Jablonec in the Conference League play-off round, with the first leg set for August 20 at Ibrox.
Source: skysports.com
