Rangers’ new boss Derek McInnes has publicly defended centre‑back Emmanuel Fernandez ahead of the club’s League Cup semi‑final against Aberdeen. The 25‑year‑old Nigerian has been a regular starter for the Hibernian‑based side, helping them keep the most clean sheets in the Scottish Premiership so far this season. McInnes said criticism of Fernandez after a shaky performance in the 2‑2 draw with Hearts was unwarranted, noting that the defender had been “outstanding” in the 2‑0 win over St Johnstone the week before.
McInnes explained that he only receives questions about Fernandez when the player has a poor outing. “Nobody asked me about Fernandez on Saturday, he was outstanding on Saturday against St Johnstone. Wednesday night wasn’t about Manny Fernandez, it was a collective effort,” he said. “I never get asked about Manny when he does really well and he’s been a big part of our better performances this season.” The Rangers manager added that the club’s defensive solidity has been a key factor in their recent form, and that Fernandez’s contributions have been integral to that success.
The semi‑final will be played at Hampden Park on Saturday, with Rangers looking to secure their first trophy since 2012. McInnes, who took charge in June, is eager to reverse the club’s trophy drought and highlighted the importance of a win for confidence and belief. “To get the first trophy would be so important, reinforcing confidence, reinforcing belief,” he said. He acknowledged that semi‑finals can be tense and that the stakes can affect performance, but he remains focused on his team’s preparation.
Aberdeen, managed by Stephen Robinson, have been in poor form, losing three of their last four league matches. Despite this, McInnes respects Robinson’s experience and the quality of the Dons’ squad. “They’ve got a good, experienced manager in Robbo and they’ve got some good players, experienced players, in Aberdeen and they’ll be relishing the opportunity as well,” he said. “People might view us as favourites for it and I understand that but we still have a game to win and Aberdeen are capable of a big performance.” McInnes stressed that a strong 90‑minute performance will be required to secure victory.
Looking ahead, McInnes expressed sympathy for managers under pressure, recalling his own eight‑year tenure at St Johnstone and his experience managing semi‑finals against clubs like Kilmarnock and Aberdeen. He remains optimistic that Rangers can overcome Aberdeen’s challenge and advance to the final, where they will face either Hearts or Hibernian. The outcome of the match will determine whether McInnes can finally bring silverware back to Ibrox.