The Ibrox centre-back refused to make excuses for the post-split failure that ended their hopes of becoming champions.

12:00, 11 May 2026Updated 12:14, 11 May 2026

Emmanuel Fernandez of Rangers looks dejected

Straight-shooting Emmanuel Fernandez admits Rangers lacked the fight for a Premiership title scrap.

The Ibrox centre-back refused to make excuses for the post-split failure that ended their hopes of becoming champions.

Danny Rohl’s side will finish third in the league after losing the Old Firm derby 3-1 to Celtic on Sunday.

Rangers led through Mikey Moore’s early opener but were pegged back by Yang’s equaliser – then condemned to a damaging defeat by Daizen Maeda’s deadly double.

It was their third straight loss at a critical point in the campaign, leaving fans livid at their Premiership collapse.

Honest Fernandez says they just didn’t battle hard enough when it mattered most.

And he’s told supporters they MUST be better on that front next term.

(Image: SNS Group)

When quizzed on why they’ve failed to deliver in the league split, the Gers defender said: “I couldn’t pinpoint an issue. But I just feel like maybe we needed to have a bit more fight.

“I can’t say we have been unlucky.

“I can take stick for it because there are certain moments I probably should have defended better.

“There is nothing I can say about my team mates – I will probably just look at myself, if anything.”

When it was put to Fernandez that fans might find a lack of fight difficult to comprehend in the midst of a title race, he said: “

“Yes, 100 percent I totally understand that. We knew it was going to be a fight.

“There were moments in games where we had to fight.

“But in football there are going to be moments where you struggle and go under in the 90 minutes.

“I feel that, as a young team if we are going to grow, you are going to struggle but you stick together and defend together.

“Then, when you come out of it, you have opportunities to score. That is something we have to improve on.”

Rangers’ Tochi Chukwuani (centre) speaks with team-Nasser Djiga (left) and Emmanuel Fernandez

Fernandez accepts that Rangers haven’t been good enough in defeats to Motherwell, Hearts and Celtic at the business end of the season.

He’s apologised to supporters and believes Rohl’s side will be better for the experience when they return in August for another crack at the title.

Ahead of their two remaining games against Hibs and Falkirk, Fernandez said: “Look, we’re disappointed. We know that we should have done better in the last three games.

“We feel sorry for the fans. But now we have to pick ourselves up. There are two games to go and we have to win these two games for the fans.

“When next season comes we’ll have a good side.

“First and foremost I apologise to the fans.

“But I feel like there are still a lot of strong players here, young players, who are going to be in their second season.

“They can show they are really worth it and are going to fight.”