In a move set to rather surprise Rangers fans, manager Derek McInnes has opened a war of words with Olwethu Makhanya and defended Emmanuel Fernandez. With Rangers fans increasingly critical of the Nigerian centre half, praise has been widespread for South Africa’s finest.

Derek McInnes, however, has taken exception to Olwethu Makhanya and praised the Nigerian. Makhanya, of course, criticised Rangers’ character following the abysmal events at Hearts on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, journalists questioned the hapless performance of the former Peterborough defender, to which McInnes responded critically.

That is to say, the manager defended his man resolutely, slamming the journalists for never commenting when Fernandez had a good game. There are obviously reasons for that, of course, which are self explanatory. When does he ever have a good game?

McInnes Rejects Makhanya’s Criticism

However, it was his rounding on Makhanya that set tongues wagging.

Now, let us not forget that Olwethu Makhanya has arguably been Rangers’ best player this season. He has shown all the character that the team wants to emulate. He has been widely praised by everyone except, in all fairness, McInnes himself.

Meanwhile, McInnes has mounted a resolute defence of Fernandez, demanding that journalists praise him for good performances rather than simply criticise his bad ones.

The curious thing here, of course, is that McInnes is downright denying what Makhanya said.

Makhanya questioned the character of the team, pointing out that it had fallen apart. He expressed how the team was sluggish in the second half and simply didn’t deliver what it should have.

Instead of agreeing with this and defending his South African signing, McInnes rejected his argument. He then rounded on the journalist while defending Fernandez.

Rangers Manager’s Media Performances Have Been Appalling

All we can say is that Derek McInnes’ performance in the media over the past three weeks, since the international break ended, has been appalling, unlike Olwethu Makhanya.

We are not going to pull a single punch here. Rangers have not returned from the international break on any level, and McInnes’ displays and comments have been terrible.

First of all, of course, came his justification for changing the system at Dundee. He then defended it when it failed. None of it made sense at all. None of it was logical.

Now this.

This is where he takes his top player, who has shown the fans respect by being honest, and rejects that honesty. He denies that Rangers lack character.

This is not a good look at all.

A Worrying Wobble Ahead of Aberdeen

Every single time a manager has disagreed with a player, or vice versa, it has led to ignominy.

We would not be at all shocked if a stunning twist happens against Aberdeen this weekend. We will get to that in a later entry.

But for now, we are disappointed in McInnes, both in his management and his comments of late.

And he really needs to up his game.

He is going through a really big wobble, and we hope it doesn’t cost more than it already has.