NafisaRangers manager Derek McInnes has been left facing uncomfortable questions about one of the biggest disappointments of his time at Ibrox, and a former Gers player believes there is a personal reason why the subject continues to strike a nerve.
Despite Rangers showing signs of improvement domestically, the club’s absence from European competition remains a major talking point.
What was supposed to be another opportunity for the Scottish giants to compete on the continental stage instead turned into a frustrating campaign before the league phase had even begun.
McInnes has repeatedly been asked whether missing out on Europe could actually benefit Rangers in their pursuit of domestic silverware.
The reduced fixture schedule could give his squad more time to prepare for Premiership matches, but the manager has also admitted to feeling envious when watching other Scottish clubs compete in Europe.
Now, former Rangers player Rory Loy has delivered a blunt assessment of the situation, suggesting the European disappointment still hurts McInnes because of the responsibility he bears for the club’s failure to qualify.
And Loy believes that lingering frustration could explain why the Rangers boss appears uncomfortable whenever the subject comes up.
Rory Loy makes bold claim about McInnes’ European frustration
Speaking on BBC Sportsound on 24 October, Loy suggested that McInnes has not simply moved on from Rangers’ European failure and continues to feel the weight of what happened during the qualifying rounds.
The former Rangers player believes the manager understands that he shares responsibility with his players for the disappointing outcome, making questions about the campaign particularly difficult to answer.
Loy said:
“I genuinely think it hurts Derek McInnes that he was responsible, or at the helm of what happened for their failing to qualify for Europe”, Loy said on BBC Sportsound (24th October, 17:17).
He continued:
“I think that is why he doesn’t like talking about it.
“And that is a mark of him, that it affects him, and I genuinely think it hurts him when he’s asked that question because he knows that ultimately he’s culpable as much as the players for that, and I think he’s slightly embarrassed by it.”
Those comments offer Loy’s interpretation of McInnes’ reaction to questions about Europe. They do not establish the manager’s private feelings as fact, but they highlight the scrutiny that Rangers’ failure to qualify continues to attract.
For a club with Rangers’ ambitions and European history, simply reaching the qualifying rounds is rarely the ultimate objective. Supporters expect the team to compete for trophies at home while also making an impact against continental opposition.
Missing out on the league phase has therefore left McInnes with a difficult question hanging over his first season in charge: can Rangers turn that disappointment into a successful domestic campaign?
How Rangers’ European dream collapsed
Rangers began their European campaign in the Europa League qualifiers, hoping to secure a place in the competition’s league phase.
However, they were eliminated and dropped into the Conference League qualifying route, only to suffer another exit before reaching that tournament’s main stage.
The result was a season without European football at Ibrox, a significant setback for a club that has enjoyed memorable continental nights in recent years.
Rangers have previously made deep runs in the Europa League, including reaching the final, helping Scotland’s standing in UEFA’s coefficient rankings through their performances against European opposition.
Their absence this season has consequently been felt beyond Ibrox, with Scotland losing the contribution that Rangers’ European results could potentially have made to its overall coefficient.
For McInnes, the immediate challenge was to put the disappointment behind him and focus on the competitions still available to his team. Yet the repeated questions about Europe suggest the subject will not disappear simply because Rangers are no longer involved.
The manager has acknowledged that he feels some envy when watching other Scottish sides compete in Europe, an understandable reaction for a coach who would have wanted his own team involved.
Could missing Europe actually help Rangers win the title?
There is, however, another side to the situation.
Without the additional demands of European travel and midweek fixtures, Rangers have fewer matches to fit into an already demanding season. That could give McInnes more opportunities to prepare his players, manage fatigue and focus on the Scottish Premiership.
The reduced workload may prove particularly valuable during the winter months, when domestic fixtures can arrive quickly and squad depth becomes increasingly important.
Rangers will hope to turn that potential advantage into tangible success, especially as they look to challenge for the league title.
But there is no guarantee that fewer matches will automatically lead to better results. The club must still perform consistently in the Premiership, handle pressure in major fixtures and make the most of the opportunities available.
For McInnes, winning silverware would be one way to change the conversation surrounding his European disappointment. A strong domestic campaign could help restore confidence and demonstrate that Rangers can still achieve their objectives despite missing out on continental competition.
Aberdeen cup clash offers McInnes another opportunity
Rangers also have a Scottish League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen on the horizon, presenting McInnes with an opportunity to move closer to his first trophy as Rangers manager.
The fixture carries additional significance because Aberdeen are the club McInnes previously managed, adding another layer of interest to the encounter.
Progressing to the final and ultimately lifting the trophy would provide Rangers with a chance to turn a difficult European campaign into a season that still delivers silverware.
However, the pressure remains firmly on the manager to make the most of the competitions left on the calendar.
Loy’s comments have brought renewed attention to the emotional and professional consequences of Rangers’ European failure, but the next chapter will be shaped by what happens on the pitch.
McInnes cannot change the qualifying results that ended Rangers’ continental ambitions. What he can do is ensure the disappointment does not define the entire campaign.
With the Premiership title race and the League Cup still offering opportunities, Rangers have reasons to remain focused. For their manager, success in those competitions could ultimately provide the strongest response to the criticism surrounding the club’s absence from Europe.
Nafisa
