NafisaThe noise surrounding Rangers after their opening-day draw with Dundee United has been impossible to ignore.
Dropped points in Derek McInnes’ first competitive match in charge immediately handed Celtic supporters plenty of ammunition, with social media quickly filling up with jokes, memes and predictions that the title race was already over before it had truly begun.
Many rival fans pointed to Rangers’ lack of creativity, missed opportunities and frustrating 1-1 result at Tannadice as proof that little has changed despite a summer rebuild.
But if anyone expected McInnes to sound defeated after the final whistle, they were left disappointed.
Instead of dwelling on the criticism, the Rangers boss delivered a calm but defiant message that many supporters have interpreted as a warning that the current squad is far from the finished article.
While acknowledging there is still plenty of work to do, McInnes made it clear he believes Rangers are only at the beginning of what could become a very different team over the coming weeks.
Speaking after the match, he admitted:
“We’ve got so many obvious advantages that come with Rangers and what we can do in terms of transfers and level of players. But that competitive edge is just clear, it’s hard to replicate that.»
“But it’s not an excuse. Nobody’s going to be perfect at this stage of the season.»
“It’s those moments, it’s those kinds of quality signings along with the players improving that we’ve got in-house that makes me really confident that we’re going to have a strong season.
“I know the evidence today would suggest we’ve still got loads and loads to do, but I do think we have got enough to be encouraged about.»
“But the new signings need to land pretty soon; I need to say that. Everybody’s worked hard to get the right players in, and I appreciate the effort that’s been made, but we’ve got important games and we’re just really trying to crank that up to try and get players in the building as quickly as possible.”
Those comments will undoubtedly excite the Rangers support.
Rather than sounding worried by the opening-day setback, McInnes spoke like a manager convinced his side will look significantly stronger once more transfer business is completed.
Rangers have already invested heavily this summer, but the manager openly admitted he still wants further reinforcements before the transfer window closes. With additional signings expected, many supporters believe the squad that takes shape over the next few weeks could be very different from the one that walked away from Tannadice with only a point.
That confidence could also serve as an indirect message to Celtic.
While rival fans have been quick to celebrate Rangers dropping points at the first opportunity, McInnes appears convinced that judging his side after one league match would be a mistake. His insistence that more quality is still to come suggests he believes Rangers will become genuine contenders once his rebuilding project is complete.
Whether that prediction proves correct will only become clear over the coming months, but one thing is certain—McInnes is refusing to let one frustrating evening define Rangers’ season.
And if the incoming signings arrive as expected, the Ibrox boss clearly believes the title race has only just begun.
Nafisa
