Derek McInnes has dismissed the idea that Rangers can apply early-season pressure on Celtic, insisting his team must focus solely on winning their own matches. The Rangers manager made his comments ahead of his side's Saturday evening fixture against Dundee, a game that presented a chance to go top of the Scottish Premiership.
McInnes said the primary objective is securing three points, regardless of what happens elsewhere. "The thing for me with that is you've still just got to win your game," McInnes told reporters. He added that it is premature to think about the psychological impact on rivals. "It's a bit early in the season to [put pressure on title rivals]," he said.
Celtic's form contrasts with Rangers' run
The context for McInnes's remarks is a stark divergence in recent results. While Rangers have won seven consecutive matches in all competitions, Celtic have lost four of their last five. This poor run for the champions includes a 4-1 Europa League defeat to Benfica on Thursday and a league loss to Rangers last month. Despite this, Celtic remain top of the standings, holding a two-point lead over their Glasgow rivals with 21 points from eight games. Their next test is a key home match against third-placed Hearts on Sunday.
European absence a domestic focus for Rangers
McInnes acknowledged a sense of envy watching Celtic and Hearts in European action this week, following Rangers' own exit from the Conference League in August. He stated, however, that the only benefit from not being in Europe is if it translates to domestic success. "Of course we would rather be in Europe and there was a wee bit of envy watching last night, but the only benefit from that is if we can be successful domestically," McInnes said. With longer preparation time between games, he stressed the responsibility is on his squad to deliver.
Demanding consistency after Kilmarnock win
The manager identified a need for improvement despite Rangers' 3-1 win over Kilmarnock before the international break. He was critical of a significant drop-off in performance during the second half of that match and said it cannot be repeated against Dundee. McInnes said having a full week to prepare with his available players should put the team in better shape to maintain their intensity for the full ninety minutes. He has challenged his players to deliver a big performance and keep stepping on the gas as they look to close the gap at the summit. Celtic, meanwhile, will look to arrest their slide when they host Hearts, a team they beat 3-1 in last season's title decider, at Celtic Park this weekend.
Read the full report at BBC Sport Football
