Derek McInnes backs himself to deliver Rangers success after ‘tough start’

Twelve players have been recruited already and McInnes hopes to sign “a couple more” and expects “one or two” to leave before the closure of the transfer window next week.

“We’re not quite there,” McInnes said.

“We’ve obviously missed big Youssef [Chermiti, who is injured], the type of striker to go and stretch teams.

“I don’t expect us to be perfect at this stage. It’s not been the start we wanted, I’m not the first Rangers manager to get off to a tough start but we are determined to follow this job through and it’s the end that counts and I still believe we’re going to be a success here.”

After Thursday’s match, McInnes lamented his side’s struggle to be either possession-based, counter attacking or direct.

“My teams have always had some sort of identity,” explained the former Aberdeen, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone manager.

“I want us to try and be a team that puts more stress on teams defensively and I don’t think that we are at the minute.

“We’ve got good ball players and I think we just need to relax a wee bit more in possession and be comfortable with what we’re try to do. It’s not as if we’re not capable of being that but I do think with an extra one or two additions, it will help us become something.

“I want us to be able to be a team that goes full press but when you go full press and you’re aggressive, you’ve got to be really aggressive with that and you’ve got to pick up second balls and win duels and turn the ball over and really impose yourself on the game.

“There’s talented players here. You don’t get in the door at Rangers unless you’re a talented player.”