Rangers head coach Derek McInnes has explained how Super Eagles defender Emmanuel Fernandez can improve after his slow start to the 2026-27 season, Soccernet.ng reports.

Fernandez has endured a frustrating opening to the campaign, struggling to reproduce the performances that made him one of Rangers’ standout players last season and attracted interest from several top clubs during the summer.

The 25-year-old enjoyed an impressive debut season at Ibrox last term, winning the club’s Player of the Season award and earning a place in the Scottish PFA Team of the Season.

His performances also led to interest from several clubs this summer including the likes of Arsenal, Rennes, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund, with speculation growing over a possible move away from Rangers.

However, the Gers have made a poor start to the new campaign, while Fernandez has also struggled at the back. 

The Nigerian defender was criticized for his performance in Rangers’ 2-1 defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok in the Europa League qualifiers earlier this month and was again under scrutiny in Sunday’s 5-1 victory over St Mirren, after conceding a penalty during another difficult outing.

McInnes reacts to Fernandez’s slow start

Rangers will return to European action on Thursday when they host Czech side Jablonec in the first leg of their Europa Conference League tie at Ibrox. The Light Blues dropped into the competition after their exit from the Europa League qualifying rounds and will be looking to take a positive result into the second leg.

Ahead of the game, McInnes, who has also faced pressure following Rangers’ slow start to the campaign, defended Fernandez and the rest of his squad while stressing the importance of helping every player regain their best form.

“We’re trying to help every player really to get to their best form”, he said, as quoted by The Scottish Sun.

“Every player is at a different moment but we need to make sure we are as stingy as we can be at the back. And try to get those kind of relationships. I think for everybody it is to try to find their best form.

“And I think at this stage of the season it’s difficult to be at your best.”

Rangers coach demands more from Fernandez

While McInnes acknowledged that it can be difficult for players to reach their best level so early in the season, he also made it clear that Fernandez and his teammates must take responsibility for improving their performances.

Fernandez was highly influential for Rangers last season, and McInnes has previously backed him to take on an even bigger role at the club. The Rangers boss now wants the Nigerian to remain focused and rediscover the form that made him one of the club’s most important players last season.

“Certainly you have to have that real focus and concentration and application at your way to try to get your best performances”, McInnes added.

“We have got good players at the club and a lot of potential at the club. It is up to us to realise that potential but players themselves have to take that on and be really focused and try to get the best out of themselves.

“Sometimes football is automatic, sometimes players have to work a little bit harder at their games”, he concluded.

Fernandez will now be hoping to respond on the pitch when Rangers face Jablonec over two legs, beginning with Thursday’s first leg at Ibrox.

The Scottish giants will be desperate to progress and keep their European campaign alive, with failure to qualify for the Conference League group stage potentially leaving them without European football for the first time since 2017.