McInnes wants Rangers improvement despite reaching cup final
Rangers beat Aberdeen 1-0 through Ryan Naderi's late goal to reach the Premier Sports Cup final, but manager Derek McInnes says his side's decision-making and shooting must improve.
Rangers reached the Premier Sports Cup final with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen at Hampden Park, Ryan Naderi scoring on 83 minutes. Derek McInnes will face either Hearts or Hibernian in December as he seeks just his second major trophy in a managerial career spanning more than 800 matches.
The win extended Rangers' unbeaten run to 11 games, built on seven clean sheets, with Olwethu Makhanya consistent at centre-half. Against Aberdeen, Rangers had 74% possession and 25 shots but only five on target before Naderi's tap-in. McInnes said the job was done "by hook or by crook" but called the low shot count a recurring problem caused by poor decision-making, adding that everyone at the club must try to improve performances before the final.
Naderi, signed from the German third tier in February, had an unconvincing first season. This campaign he has eight goals, including the winner in a 1-0 league victory at Celtic Park, and has contributed significantly while Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti have been absent. Former Ibrox midfielder Andy Halliday said the forward has been completely transformed, pairing his usual work ethic with goals and effectiveness. McInnes described Naderi as a player who thrives on service and said Rangers must deliver more quality balls into the box for him.
McInnes stressed the importance of reaching finals regularly, saying it must become Rangers' norm and that the result gives supporters something to look forward to and sustains a feel-good factor around the club. He acknowledged that losing the semi-final would have invited scrutiny, and said he believes every team can improve, including this one.
The article notes that Rangers have won just three trophies since 2012, underlining the pressure to deliver silverware. McInnes is chasing his second major trophy as a manager after spells at Hearts, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.
Image: SNS / BBC Sport
