Rangers manager Derek McInnes admitted to enjoying his role for the first time after his team secured a narrow victory at Pittodrie, rebounding from a recent European disappointment. The win, a hard-fought 1-0 triumph against Aberdeen, came courtesy of a second-half penalty converted by Lawrence Shankland.
Following a second successive European tie loss in Jablonec, McInnes' side displayed a resilience that had been lacking. "Strong performance, deserved win," McInnes stated post-match. "I thought we were good in the game. I thought we looked like a team, a sense of the team that I would like us to be."
Any win was considered vital for the club, especially after playing 120 minutes on Thursday and undertaking travel. McInnes praised his players' conditioning and their ability to "dig deep." He specifically mentioned that for the first time this season, he genuinely enjoyed watching his team play and expressed a desire to celebrate with the supporters, acknowledging that the team felt they had let the fans down in their previous outing.
The manager suggested that frank discussions following the Jablonec defeat helped galvanize the players for the match against Aberdeen. He highlighted the supportive staff at Rangers as "first class" and "proper elite." The team's recent proximity, including staying at a hotel in Aberdeen, contributed to a sense of togetherness. "Because we all suffer when we lose," McInnes commented. "But having togetherness and spirit and a work ethic helps give you a better chance of doing it, and that's what we had today."
McInnes was particularly pleased with the performance of Kim Min-su, who impressed in a central role after joining from Girona. The manager noted the Korean's confidence and speed, which provided a different dynamic to the team and aided striker Lawrence Shankland. "It's vitally important for Lawrence, having that movement," McInnes said. "He needs that speed and invention and creativity. It's the quality that we've been searching for for a long time now, and you see the difference to the team."
Other players also received praise, with Djeidi Gassama described as "first class" and Findlay Curtis offering "good moments." McInnes also noted it was a "great debut" for Min-su, who had only trained once prior to the match.
Regarding player transfers, McInnes confirmed that no bids have been received for Nico Raskin, who was omitted from the squad again. He also commented on the importance of acquiring attacking quality, referencing links to striker Kevin Kelsy.
Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson expressed frustration with two key decisions that went against his side. Kevin Nisbet had a penalty claim denied and later had an equalizer disallowed for an infringement. "Someone has made that decision rightly or wrongly and it certainly affects the game," Robinson stated. Despite these decisions, he acknowledged "lots of good stuff with battling qualities and real desire and determination" from his team.