Chris Sutton responds instantly to Rangers’ embarrassment, also insulting Celtic in the process.

Rangers are facing another difficult period after their European hopes were ended by Jablonec, and former Celtic striker Chris Sutton wasted little time reacting to the latest disappointment involving both sides of the Old Firm.

Rangers travelled to the Czech Republic holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, but they were beaten by the same scoreline in the return fixture. More concerning for Derek McInnes and the Rangers supporters was the lack of attacking threat, with the visitors failing to create a genuinely good opportunity during the match.

The result has placed McInnes under increasing pressure. The Rangers manager is now facing criticism from the supporters who made the journey to Czechia, as well as a large section of the fanbase watching and reacting online.

Rangers eventually saw their European campaign end in the most painful fashion, losing the decisive penalty shootout against Jablonec. As a result, the club will not participate in European competition this season, a hugely disappointing outcome given the expectations surrounding the team.

The setback is even more difficult to accept considering the amount of money Rangers have spent during another busy summer transfer window. Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers have invested heavily in the club, and frustration is likely to increase as Rangers continue to struggle to produce performances that match the level of investment.

However, Sutton was not prepared to celebrate Rangers’ misery. The former England international had also watched Celtic suffer their own European disappointment earlier in the week and appeared to have little sympathy for either side of the Old Firm.

Celtic suffered a remarkable collapse on Tuesday after surrendering a four-goal aggregate advantage against LASK. The result meant they failed to reach the Champions League group stage and instead dropped into the Europa League.

Rangers then followed that disappointment with their own European disaster, leaving Sutton to describe it as a terrible week for both Glasgow clubs.

Sutton took to X shortly after Rangers’ defeat and delivered a blunt assessment of the situation. He wrote: “Sad week bad week for Rangers and Celtic … as bad as each other.”

His comments highlighted the fact that both clubs had endured major European setbacks within the space of only a few days. Celtic had thrown away an enormous advantage, while Rangers had failed to protect a narrow lead and ultimately crashed out on penalties.

The results have also raised concerns about Scotland’s UEFA coefficient. Rangers have traditionally contributed significantly to Scotland’s European standing, but their failure to qualify for Europe this season represents another blow.

Motherwell also lost their European place on Thursday, although their defeat came against Bundesliga opposition in Freiburg. Celtic will continue in the Europa League, while Hearts have dropped into the Conference League.

Despite Sutton’s comparison, there is an argument that the two situations are not entirely equal. From a Rangers perspective, it is difficult to ignore how far the club currently appears to be behind Celtic.

Celtic may have suffered an embarrassing collapse against LASK, but they remain in a much stronger position than Rangers when it comes to squad quality, resources and expectations. The situation at Ibrox has become so concerning that even some Rangers supporters are willing to acknowledge the difference between the two clubs.

The latest European exit has also brought back uncomfortable memories of Rangers’ previous continental disappointments. The 2-1 aggregate defeat to Luxembourg side Progres Niederkorn in 2017 remains one of the darkest moments in the club’s recent European history, and some supporters may feel the latest failure is even harder to accept.

Rangers had more than one opportunity to secure European football this time around. With significant transfer spending behind them and two chances to progress, the failure to qualify is difficult to explain.

Attention now turns to Sunday’s meeting with Aberdeen, which has suddenly taken on enormous importance despite the fact that only three league games have been played.

Rangers cannot afford another poor result, particularly with Aberdeen already sitting five points clear after just two Scottish Premiership matches. The early-season gap has placed additional pressure on McInnes and his players.

Lawrence Shankland and his teammates will now have to respond quickly. Rangers need their summer recruits to demonstrate why the club invested so heavily in them, while McInnes must find a way to turn the team’s fortunes around.

The criticism surrounding the manager has intensified following the defeat, with some supporters questioning whether he has been able to impose his ideas effectively enough. The performance in Czechia did little to ease those concerns.

Meanwhile, Celtic appear to have responded to their own European disappointment from a position of greater strength. Martin O’Neill has already guided them through a strong start to the domestic season, and expectations remain high that Celtic can challenge for another league title.

For Rangers, however, Sunday’s match against Aberdeen could be crucial. Another defeat this early in the campaign would increase the pressure dramatically and could lead to questions about whether the club needs to make another change in the dugout.

After such a disappointing European exit, McInnes now needs a response. If Rangers fail to deliver, the calls for action from the supporters could become impossible for the club hierarchy to ignore.