McInnes Demands More Clinical Edge from Rangers Attackers

Rangers manager Derek McInnes has issued a stern warning to his players regarding their efficiency in front of goal, describing their attacking statistics in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen as 'embarrassing.' Despite securing a place in the cup final with a late 1-0 victory, the team registered 25 shots with only five finding the target, a disparity McInnes highlighted as a significant area for improvement.

"In terms of the stats, it is actually embarrassing we have had 25 shots and only five on target," McInnes stated. "It says a lot about the inexperience at the top end of the pitch." He pointed to a tendency for players to make poor decisions in the final third, snatching at chances rather than maintaining composure.

The manager specifically called out wingers like Badredine Bouanani and Kim Min-su, who have yet to contribute significantly with goals or assists this season. While acknowledging the youth and inexperience within the attacking unit, McInnes emphasized that these shortcomings must be addressed if the club is to achieve silverware.

"We need to keep arriving in cup finals and get the job done to win trophies," he said. "I always feel there’s goals in us. Equally, I was still a bit concerned on counter-attacks. Aberdeen had a couple of moments that gave them oxygen and belief that maybe they could get in the final, but the better team won."

McInnes noted that striker Ryan Naderi, who scored the decisive goal, exemplifies the type of instinct needed. "Naderi, like all good strikers, is going that way when the defenders are on their heels and he gets these scruffy goals that you want your striker to score." However, he added that Naderi is not being fed enough due to the team's decision-making issues.

"Some of the stats that we’re seeing more or less every week at the minute, it’s like making poor decisions, snatching at things, rushing crosses, not making the right pass, not putting the extra pass in," McInnes elaborated. "I’m going to keep saying that we’re a young team up there and it’s hard sometimes. You need an old man up there, an old head, nous, who knows just how to bring a bit of savvy and calmness to it."

He expressed a desire for players to take more care in their actions, remaining calm to create better opportunities instead of just forcing shots. "If we just take more care, be less rushed and stay calm in those moments, create better opportunities rather than just 25 shots and 20 of them flying over the bar," he said. "Those shots on target become double, triple more of what we get, and it’s those wee bits that we need to sharpen up if we’re going to be successful this season."

Regarding individual contributions, McInnes expects more from Bouanani. "There had better! The wide players need to start scoring goals. Min-su needs to get that demand on himself, Gassama. Bouanani’s got so much quality." He recalled Bouanani's consistent finishing in training, suggesting goals will come if he maintains his efforts.

The team now has a six-week period before the final to work on these areas. "We’re on a really strong run just now in terms of wins and being unbeaten over a period of time, but we know we’re not perfect. It’s important that we keep searching for those improvements," McInnes added.

Naderi, who scored his eighth goal of the season, expressed his happiness and belief in the team's deserved win. "We had so many corners back-to-back, so much pressure, so many shots on target," he commented.

Captain Nico Raskin echoed McInnes' sentiments, acknowledging the need for greater calmness in front of goal and expressing a desire to return to Hampden and win the cup. "It is about trying to be more clinical now and enjoying the game more as it is always tense at 0-0 or 1-0. We want to come back to Hampden and win the cup now."