Rangers manager Derek McInnes believes his side can build a genuine identity and challenge for silverware again, starting with Sunday's League Cup quarter-final against fierce rivals Celtic at Ibrox.
The fixture arrives at a pivotal moment for Rangers, who have not lifted a trophy since winning the League Cup in 2023. McInnes himself has only one major piece of managerial silverware to his name, having guided Aberdeen to League Cup glory back in 2014. As a player, however, he enjoyed considerably more success at Ibrox, collecting both league and cup medals during his time with the club.
With kickoff set for 12:00 BST, McInnes acknowledged the scale of the challenge his side faces but insisted the home advantage works in Rangers' favor. "For us, what it presents is a tough cup tie but equally the fact that we've got it at Ibrox, at home," he said. He was quick to remind everyone of what's at stake, framing the tie as an early step on a potential run to Hampden. "We're 90 minutes away from Hampden, we're three games away from lifting silverware. You've got to beat the good teams to win a trophy ordinarily and we've got a tough game."
The quarter-final is the first of two meetings between the sides in the space of a week, with a league match at Celtic Park to follow seven days later. McInnes made clear that beating Celtic on Sunday would carry significance beyond simply advancing in the cup. "We've got to make it tough for Celtic as well and I think they'll expect a tough match and that's what we intend to give them but it's got all the makings of a brilliant cup tie," he said. "We just need to bring a performance now that gives us the chance to win it and then hopefully progress through the tournament. If you win it, it will only give you a platform to the next one."
McInnes was careful not to overstate the importance of a single result this early in the campaign, even while recognizing that fixtures against Celtic tend to draw intense scrutiny. "You're always getting judged and there's always pressure games and this is the type of game that you think people can have an opinion on your side," he explained. "I still think it's really early on in a season to be making any rash judgements on any team, good or bad."
Tactically, McInnes wants his players to stay composed rather than be swept up in the occasion. He warned that Celtic's pressing game leaves little room for hesitation on the ball. "It's easier said than done and normally when you think you've got time to play, you normally don't and you've got to move the ball quickly and be ready for Celtic's press, the intensity," he said. He added that the match would be decided by fine margins across the pitch: "There's a lot of duels to be won, there's a lot of individual battles to be won but a bit of fire and ice at the right times can help matters."
McInnes was candid in his respect for Celtic's recent dominance, describing them as the benchmark side domestically. "We recognise Celtic are a good team who have been the main title winners and the team that's picked up more trophies than any other club in recent years," he said. Still, he views Sunday's tie as an opportunity for Rangers to reassert themselves. "We just want to make sure that we give ourselves a chance to be relevant domestically again in terms of winning trophies and Sunday gives us a chance to take a step towards that."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.