Ally McCoist did not hold back as Rangers damaging European defeat continued to reverberate across Scottish football, with the former Ibrox striker branding the performance one of the worst he has witnessed in years.
Speaking on TalkSport following Rangers 2–1 loss to Ferencvárosi, McCoist admitted he was stunned by what he watched, particularly at the defensive fragility on show.
While acknowledging the commitment of the travelling support, the Rangers legend said the team’s performance left him genuinely shocked.
“I felt for the fans,” McCoist explained.
“They always travel in numbers, they always back the team, and what they were served up was miles below the standard you expect from Rangers.”
McCoist’s most cutting criticism centred on the defensive structure, which he felt unravelled alarmingly as the match wore on.
He described the defending from Emmanuel Fernandez and James Tavernier as “unbelievable” in the worst possible sense, admitting he could scarcely believe what he was watching at times.
The former Scotland international also questioned the squad’s overall balance and recruitment, suggesting Rangers have gone backwards despite significant investment.
McCoist highlighted what he sees as a stark decline from the side that reached a European final just three seasons ago.
“The drop-off has been remarkable,” he said.
“They’ve brought in six or seven players and I’m struggling to see one who’s improved the team.
“Meanwhile, they’ve lost an enormous amount of goals from players who’ve left, and they simply haven’t replaced that output.”
His frustration extended beyond Rangers alone, with McCoist lamenting what he sees as a wider decline in Scottish football’s standing.
He referenced recent results involving both Old Firm clubs as evidence that the aura surrounding them has diminished – with Celtic also losing 3-0 at home in their own UEFA Europa League tie with Roma.
“There’s no fear factor anymore,” he suggested.
“Teams are going to Celtic Park, teams are coming to Ibrox, and they believe they can get something.
“That tells you everything.”
Despite the harsh critique, McCoist’s comments came from a place of deep concern rather than detachment.
Few figures are more synonymous with Rangers, and his willingness to voice such severe criticism underlines the scale of the current disappointment.