Rangers supporters have expressed disappointment following the club's failure to qualify for the Europa League, with some viewing the UEFA Conference League as a competition for lesser teams. However, analysis suggests that Rangers are in no position to disregard the competition and should embrace it as their current level in European football.
This sentiment arises after Rangers were eliminated from Europa League qualification by Poland's Jagiellonia Bialystok. The club's recent European history includes reaching the Europa League final four years ago and competing in the Champions League the following season, making the current situation a stark contrast for many fans. Discussions on social media have focused on the club's perceived decline in European stature.
Despite the dip in prestige, the Conference League has been won by notable clubs such as Roma, West Ham, and Olympiacos since its inception in 2021. The argument is that while the standard of opposition may be lower than the Champions League or Europa League, it still represents European football with prize money and a trophy at stake. Dismissing it could signal a sense of entitlement.
Clubs like Atalanta, who have achieved significant European success in recent seasons, are also participating in Conference League qualifiers, indicating that the competition is being taken seriously by various teams. Other clubs potentially involved in the Conference League alongside Rangers include FC Copenhagen, Midtjylland, Brighton, Monaco, Ajax, Panathinaikos, Freiburg, and Braga. Reaching the latter stages of the Conference League is presented as a realistic and achievable goal for Rangers.
The alternative to participating in the Conference League group stage is no European football for the season and the forfeiture of approximately £2.7 million in qualification fees. Further prize money of £340,000 per win is also available in the group stage.
Rangers are set to face Jablonec in their upcoming Conference League qualifier. Manager Derek McInnes acknowledged the difficulty in assessing favorites but emphasized his team's focus on winning. He noted Jablonec's current strong form in their domestic league and their ability to organize and pose problems, with the potential to change formations.
McInnes secured his first victory as Rangers manager with a 5-1 win against St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup, following a four-match winless start to the season that included the Europa League exit. The squad has been strengthened with new signings James Penrice and Kosta Nedeljkovic. Penrice made a notable debut against St Mirren, contributing a goal and an assist.
The team aims to build momentum from their recent league cup success, with McInnes highlighting the importance of individual performances and collective effort. He stressed that repeating the mistakes made against Jagiellonia Bialystok would be detrimental, while emulating the performance against St Mirren could lead to success against Jablonec and a stronger position heading into the second leg in the Czech Republic. The current reality, it is argued, is that the Conference League is where Rangers currently belong in the European landscape.