Emmanuel Fernandez: Two ways Nigerian defender can revive Rangers career

Emmanuel Fernandez has endured a difficult start to the season at Rangers, but the Nigerian defender has two clear routes back to his best form, Afrik-Foot reports.

Fernandez was one of Rangers’ standout players last season, earning the club’s Player of the Year award and a place in the Scottish PFA Team of the Year.

However, the 25-year-old has found himself under scrutiny since the arrival of Derek McInnes, with criticism following Rangers’ defeat to Jagiellonia Białystok and their 5-1 win over St Mirren.

His latest test came against Jablonec on Thursday, when Rangers secured a 1-0 Conference League play-off first-leg victory.

Jawo’s verdict shows what Fernandez must change

Although Fernandez helped Rangers keep their first competitive clean sheet in 13 matches, Jablonec striker Lamin Jawo delivered a blunt assessment of their individual battle.

“I know Fernandez is a strong and good player who has quality,” Jawo said in quotes revealed by the Herald.

“But I have played against the strongest defenders in the Czech Republic, so this was not that big of a difference for me.”

The Gambian forward went further, suggesting Fernandez did not dominate their physical contest.

“I think it was 50/50 with him. It was not that difficult, and maybe I won more aerial duels than him.”

Jawo’s comments are relevant because physicality is one of Fernandez’s defining attributes, but they also expose the distinction between being physically gifted and consistently imposing those qualities on opponents.

Fernandez does not need to win every duel. What Rangers need from him is greater consistency in the moments when his strength, positioning and aggression can turn defensive situations in their favour.

Interestingly, the numbers from Jablonec provide some defence for the Nigerian. Fernandez recorded 16 defensive contributions, 13 clearances, four tackles and five successful duels from eight, while helping Rangers protect a clean sheet despite playing the latter stages with 10 men.

The problem is not that Fernandez has suddenly become a poor defender; it is that his mistakes are becoming more noticeable.

Emmanuel Fernandez must adapt to McInnes’ Rangers

The biggest change around Fernandez is managerial. The defender flourished after Danny Röhl arrived at Ibrox last season, but Röhl left Rangers for RB Salzburg in the summer, with McInnes taking over.

McInnes has also acknowledged that Fernandez needs to rediscover his best level, rather than suggesting that his underlying ability has disappeared.

The Nigerian has also had to contend with considerable instability around him. He has already featured in more than 19 different centre-back combinations since arriving at Rangers, while his partnership with Olwethu Makhanya is still developing.

That makes communication and positional discipline even more important.

Fernandez cannot control the managerial change or every defensive partnership, but he can control his own concentration, decision-making and reaction to mistakes.

Fernandez can still change the narrative

There is a temptation to view the criticism as evidence that Fernandez’s reputation at Rangers has deteriorated, but there’s evidence to prove otherwise.

A player who was good enough to win Rangers’ Player of the Year award last season does not suddenly lose his ability overnight. His Jablonec performance offered a counterargument to some of the criticism.

What Fernandez needs now is not one spectacular performance, but a sequence of dependable ones.

He can begin by adapting more quickly to McInnes’ demands and then making his physical qualities count more consistently.

Jawo may have described their battle as “not that difficult”, but Fernandez has the opportunity to make sure future opponents find him considerably harder to handle.

For a defender who was recently regarded as one of Rangers’ most important players, the route back is still very much open.