Derek McInnes, who left Hearts to take charge of Rangers last summer, said he feels “guilt” about his departure when he returns to Tynecastle for the first time since joining the Old Firm club. The Rangers manager acknowledged that his return could be met with a cold reception from Hearts supporters, who were left feeling disappointed after the club narrowly missed out on its first top‑flight title in 66 years.
McInnes reflected on the 2022‑23 season, when Hearts dominated the Scottish Premiership for most of the campaign but were denied the championship by a 3‑1 defeat to Celtic on the final day. He praised the “really well‑run” Edinburgh outfit and said he was proud of what the team achieved despite not having the financial resources of Rangers or Celtic. “I think taking a team that finished in the bottom six and getting to 80 points shows what can be done,” he told reporters, adding that the sense of injustice at the season’s end was palpable among the squad.
The former Hearts manager also noted that the club is still a “title contender” under new head coach Wouter Vrancken. He described the atmosphere at Hearts during the 2022‑23 campaign as one of collective grief, with players “clinging to each other” in the first part of the close season. McInnes admitted that the decision to leave was difficult, and that he felt a sense of responsibility for the club’s disappointment.
When asked about how he would be received at Tynecastle, McInnes said he does not expect a warm welcome. “I totally understand it, though. I loved my time at Hearts,” he said, “but I think the treatment I get is what it is, and you could say I deserve it.” He added that he had felt let down when Hearts’ captain and leading scorer Lawrence Shankland announced his move to Rangers a few weeks earlier, and that he could empathise with the fans’ reaction.
McInnes concluded that his time at Hearts will always remain special for him, but that the sense of injustice and the desire to win a title outside the Old Firm linger. He will return to Tynecastle on Wednesday to face his former club, where the outcome of the match and the fans’ reaction will determine how the story ends for both sides.