NafisaDerek McInnes has barely had time to enjoy Rangers finally getting their season moving in the right direction before another huge challenge landed directly in front of him.
The Rangers boss secured his first victory in charge in emphatic fashion, watching his side sweep aside St Mirren 5-1 to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup.
Then came the draw.
And suddenly, the mood around Ibrox changed again.
Instead of being handed a potentially kinder route into the latter stages of the competition, Rangers were paired with Celtic in a mouthwatering Old Firm showdown at Ibrox.
For many managers, that might have been viewed as an unwanted draw.
McInnes, however, appeared to see things very differently.
The Rangers boss admitted there was one particular aspect of the draw that left him genuinely delighted — and it had nothing to do with avoiding another club or getting an easier route to the semi-finals.
McInnes reacts to Celtic draw
McInnes was asked about the quarter-final immediately after Rangers’ impressive victory over St Mirren.
His reaction was striking.
“I’m delighted to be at home, obviously it’s a mouth-watering tie,” the Rangers boss said.
That first part is perhaps what caught the attention.
McInnes was not hiding his excitement about the prospect of facing Celtic.
Instead, he welcomed the fixture and appeared to relish the opportunity to bring the Hoops to Ibrox.
“If you’re going to win the trophy, you need to beat the better teams,” he added.
And that is where the reasoning behind his happiness becomes clear.
Rather than worrying about the difficulty of the draw, McInnes appears to believe that Rangers ultimately have to overcome the biggest sides if they are serious about winning silverware.
The ONE thing that has McInnes delighted
For McInnes, the biggest positive is simple:
Rangers will have Celtic at Ibrox.
That gives his side home advantage in an Old Firm cup tie — something that could become hugely significant when the quarter-final arrives.
“Obviously, Celtic coming here, which I think means we’ll face them two weeks in a row,” McInnes said.
“It will be eagerly anticipated by everybody. It will be something to look forward to.”
The timing makes the fixture even more fascinating.
Rangers and Celtic will meet at Ibrox in the League Cup quarter-final during the weekend of September 12/13 before facing each other again at Celtic Park on September 20 in the Premiership.
That means McInnes could have two opportunities in quick succession to measure his Rangers side against their biggest rivals.
And there is another reason he may be particularly pleased.
McInnes expects Rangers to be much stronger
The Rangers team that destroyed St Mirren is unlikely to be the same Rangers side that takes on Celtic.
McInnes is still expecting further additions to his squad, while his existing players should have more time to adapt to his methods.
That could make the quarter-final a completely different test.
“Hopefully by the time that game comes around, we’ll have a few more wins and the squad will be a lot more settled and a bit stronger than it is at the minute,” McInnes explained.
“Because it will need to be to wrestle with a team like Celtic.”
That final comment perhaps says more than anything else.
McInnes knows Rangers are not yet where he wants them to be.
But he also knows exactly how much time he has to change that.
The five-goal demolition of St Mirren was the first major step, and the upcoming weeks will give him the opportunity to build momentum, strengthen the squad and restore confidence around Ibrox.
Celtic draw could become a season-defining moment
The Old Firm quarter-final is therefore about much more than simply progressing to the next round.
For McInnes, it could provide an early opportunity to demonstrate that Rangers are capable of competing with Celtic under his leadership.
The pressure will be enormous, particularly given the difficult opening weeks of his tenure.
But the Rangers boss appears to be embracing it rather than running from it.
And that may explain why he was so pleased when the draw was made.
There is no hiding place now.
Rangers know who stands between them and the League Cup semi-finals.
Celtic know exactly where they are going.
And McInnes knows that if he can get his Rangers side ready over the next few weeks, Ibrox could provide the stage for his first truly statement-making Old Firm victory as Rangers manager.
Nafisa
