McInnes Voices Frustration Over International Break Length
Derek McInnes has been on a roll lately, earning the Premiership manager of the month award for September after leading Rangers to four consecutive victories.
But the Rangers boss isn’t too thrilled about the extended international break, which he feels is just too long. Following their derby win over Celtic on September 20, 13 of his players set off to represent their countries, leaving the squad in a challenging position.
"Our players are away with different federations, working with various staff and travelling across the globe for four games," McInnes pointed out.
He added, "It's difficult for the players to be away from their families, and there's always that worry about them being in foreign hands for such an extended period."
As the squad reconvenes, McInnes noted that while all players are back, not everyone is ready to train. It will be 19 days since they last played together before facing Kilmarnock.
"That’s longer than many international tournaments! It’s already set in stone, but I can’t say I’m a fan of it," he lamented.
Rangers went into this break riding high, having secured six straight wins, including two crucial victories over Celtic in both league and cup. This resurgence has been a significant boost for McInnes, especially after a shaky start that saw the team exit European competition.
Reflecting on their recent success, McInnes stated he is “under no illusions” about the need to keep up their strong form. He also shared an interesting moment with Sir Alex Ferguson, who visited the club's training ground for lunch.
"He spent some time with the staff and me, just chatting as he does. He’s always been very supportive, not just of me but of many managers out there," McInnes shared.
The former Manchester United manager has a history of visiting Tynecastle, where he watched McInnes lead Hearts' unexpected title challenge last season.
"We talked about his own tough beginnings at Man United and how it’s all about how you finish the campaign, not how you start. Sometimes, it just takes time to find your footing," McInnes explained, adding that Ferguson was particularly impressed with their performance at Celtic Park.
