Derek McInnes has defended centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez following criticism of his performance in Rangers’ 2-2 draw with Hearts on Wednesday night, insisting the defender has played a key role this season.
An 89th-minute header from Olwethu Makhanya rescued a point for McInnes’ side on a dramatic night that saw the former Hearts manager return to his old club. When questioned about Fernandez in a media conference on Thursday, the Rangers boss was quick to protect his player.
“I only get asked about Fernandez when he has a poor game. Nobody asked me about him on Saturday, when he was outstanding against St Johnstone,” McInnes said.
“Wednesday night wasn’t on Manny Fernandez; Wednesday night was a collective performance. I never get asked about Manny when he plays well, but he’s been a big part of our better performances this season.”
Rangers now head to Hampden on Halloween to face another of McInnes’ former clubs, Aberdeen, in the semi-final. Following upcoming home fixtures against St Mirren and Celtic, McInnes sees the prospect of early silverware as a huge opportunity to build momentum.
“To win the first trophy would be so important; it reinforces confidence and belief,” said the Rangers manager. “Traditionally, semi-finals can be fraught with nerves and tension, and they aren’t always the best games because of what’s at stake.”
Aberdeen enter the match amidst a difficult run under new manager Stephen Robinson, with reports suggesting part of the fanbase has already turned against the Northern Irishman. However, McInnes praised his counterpart’s experience and warned that Rangers must be at their best.
“They’ve got a good, experienced manager in Robbo, along with some quality, experienced players. They’ll be relishing this opportunity as well,” McInnes added.
“People might view us as favourites, and I understand that, but we still have a game to win. Aberdeen are capable of putting in a big performance. I’m focusing on us, if we hit our levels, hopefully that will be enough, but a strong 90-minute performance will be required.”
