What we learned from McInnes' Rangers unveiling

ByThomas Duncan

BBC Sport Scotland

When Derek McInnes walked in to face the media - in club suit and tie - for the first time as Rangers manager, it was all business.

This is the 54-year-old's dream role, but his face was stern and concentrated throughout as he laid out his vision for bringing the good times back at Ibrox.

There were no grand promises of philosophies or instant success, but a message that standards and mentality have to change.

Given the number of men who have come and gone from the same chair, he acknowledged talk in press conferences is cheap.

"I know if we don't win trophies it will be somebody else sitting here before too long," he said.

"But I come here with the confidence. I know with the resource we've got, with the infrastructure in place and the support I've got from the people above us, that this should be a winning Rangers team."

Rangers chief executive Jim Gillespie was sitting alongside McInnes answering questions, and said the former Hearts, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen boss was "the only candidate" for the job.

He said when RB Salzburg came in for Danny Rohl, Rangers already had McInnes in mind and were ready to move.

"That was a motivation to let Danny go and bring Derek in because he was a man that we had already highlighted as a man to bring success to Rangers," Gillespie revealed.

For McInnes' part, he said he would have "loved to have managed Hearts longer" after a "special" season, but leading Rangers has been a long-term goal.

"The call was a surprise when it came about because obviously the manager was in place here," he added.

"I was on my holiday and obviously all things kind of kicked off and it was a busy five or six days in between but I had a lot to consider.

"But becoming Rangers manager is something I've always wanted and I feel so comfortable with the decision was made and being here feels right."

McInnes spoke warmly about the club's good European form over the past eight years. He said those nights are some of supporters' most memorable and his team will aim to replicate that.

However, he said winning leagues and cups in Scotland is the priority because Rangers fans have "suffered" from a lack of trophies for too long. The club have won one top-flight title, one Scottish Cup and one League Cup in the past 15 years.

"We want to do well right across the board and in Europe and all the rest of it - but we need to start being more relevant again, winning trophies domestically, and that for me is key," he said.

Given the lack of league titles and domestic cups, questions about Rangers' mentality in the biggest moments have come up time and again.

McInnes is acutely aware of that, having bested them as Hearts head coach last season as the Tynecastle side finished above Rangers.

He explained recruitment work is ongoing and the profile of player they look for needs to change slightly.

"We're working hard to try and make sure we bring a level of player in that can deal with the expectation but also give us that extra bit of quality that clearly we need," McInnes said.

"Last season was disappointing for the club and something similar ain't going to get the job done - so there's work to be done."

Rangers have made McInnes 'manager' as opposed to the previous 'head coach' position, suggesting he will have more of a hands-on approach to matters beyond the training pitch than some of his predecessors.

When asked about his role in recruitment, the Rangers boss said he is part of a collaborative process with technical director Dan Purdy, sporting director Stig Inge Bjornebye, the board and the recruitment staff.

He and his assistants will identify the key positions that need strengthened, the recruitment staff will get to work, and there will be ongoing discussions.

But ultimately, the final call will rest with him.

"I've been given assurances that every player we sign will come down to me [making] the final decision," McInnes explained.

"But it's a collaboration really and it's like like-minded people just having conversations on a daily basis trying to arrive at the best option for us."

McInnes added there is a model to adhere but not every player will be for "development" with a view to reselling.

When asked about his philosophy and style of play, McInnes was clear. Talk about how his team will play is cheap. "We need to win here," he said.

However he said he wants to emulate the type of football he got Hearts playing last season - when they were unbeaten at home - so teams do not enjoy facing Rangers.

"I don't want teams to come here and feel comfortable and play their way into the game," McInnes said.

"All of a sudden, that fear factor isn't there playing against Rangers. We've got to make teams really struggle when they play against us.

"We've got good players currently and we're going to bring in good players. You have to have quality to be a Rangers player but it takes a lot more than that.

"There's an identity and an intensity that is required to win games domestically."