Fernandez under scrutiny as McInnes demands defensive reset at Rangers

Emmanuel Fernandez’s place at the heart of Rangers’ defence is under growing scrutiny, with new manager Derek McInnes warned he may lose patience with the centre-back if pre-season errors continue.

The 25-year-old Super Eagles defender, who was outstanding in his debut campaign at Ibrox last season and named the club’s Player of the Year, is now facing a fight to retain his starting role as McInnes reshapes his backline ahead of the new Scottish Premiership season.

Scottish journalist Scott McDermott, writing in his column for the Daily Record, reported that McInnes has already shown visible frustration on the touchline over Fernandez’s decision-making in his own half during recent friendlies.

Concerns over pre-season displays

Fernandez’s performances in pre-season matches against Saint-Etienne and West Ham United have come under particular focus, with opposition sides repeatedly looking to exploit his area of the defence.

McDermott highlighted that, while Fernandez remains a powerful, composed defender who is comfortable playing out from the back, he has been prone to taking unnecessary risks near his own penalty area, especially with horizontal passes across the defensive line.

Those moments, McDermott suggested, are exactly the type of situations that could test McInnes’ tolerance levels, despite the Nigerian international’s obvious qualities and status within the squad.

McInnes targets discipline after defensive collapse

McInnes has taken charge at Ibrox with a clear intention to impose greater defensive discipline following Rangers’ collapse at the end of last season. The club conceded 17 goals in seven post-split fixtures, a run that saw them finish third in the Scottish Premiership behind Celtic and Hearts.

Against that backdrop, McDermott believes the new manager will be unwilling to overlook lapses in concentration or over-complication at the back, regardless of a player’s technical ability or potential transfer value.

The message from McDermott’s assessment is that McInnes wants a more pragmatic, error-free defence, and that Fernandez will need to adapt quickly to those demands if he wishes to remain an automatic pick.

Competition from new arrival Makhanya

Fernandez’s situation has been further complicated by the arrival of South African defender Olwethu Makhanya, signed to bolster Rangers’ defensive options ahead of the new campaign.

Makhanya’s presence increases competition for starting spots and, according to McDermott, means Fernandez can no longer rely solely on his standout performances from last season or his growing reputation after attracting interest from Bundesliga clubs Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund.

Fernandez’s breakthrough year at Ibrox not only earned him Rangers’ Player of the Year award but also led to his first senior call-up for Nigeria, underlining his rapid progress over the past 12 months.

Dundee United opener could be pivotal

Despite the recent concerns, the former Peterborough United defender is expected to be involved when Rangers begin their Scottish Premiership campaign against Dundee United tomorrow.

McDermott suggests that this opening fixture could prove highly significant for Fernandez’s status within McInnes’ plans, potentially shaping whether he remains a first-choice centre-back over the coming months.

Fernandez has quickly become a fan favourite at Ibrox thanks to his assured use of the ball and commanding presence, but he now faces the challenge of demonstrating that he can marry those attributes with the defensive discipline McInnes demands.

That task comes in the context of the 55-year-old manager having praised Fernandez only a few days ago, underlining that the defender still has credit in the bank – but cannot afford further concentration lapses.

Should Fernandez fail to convince McInnes that he can cut out the errors, McDermott believes it could open the door for Makhanya to force his way into the Rangers starting XI within weeks of the new season kicking off.