The key facts

  • McInnes took over at Rangers following striker Lawrence Shankland after leaving Hearts
  • Hearts led the league for 250 days but lost the title to Celtic in the final round
  • Ahead of the match, Hearts are third, four points behind Rangers and eight behind Celtic

A return the manager is ashamed of

Rangers head coach Derek McInnes said he understands how hostile his reception at Tynecastle will be on Wednesday, when his side face Hearts for the first time since his departure. “I understand tomorrow won’t be the most pleasant for me, but I accept it,” McInnes said at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, adding that he had hoped for mutual recognition from the fans, but realises that will not happen.

Guilt after a lost title

Last season, Hearts under McInnes came close to ending a 66-year wait for the championship: the team topped the table for 250 days, but in the final round let first place slip to Celtic, who claimed their 14th title in 15 years. According to McInnes, afterwards there was “a feeling in the team as if we were in mourning,” and he himself experienced “a sense of guilt” over the decision to stay or leave. He also called a series of contentious refereeing decisions at the end of the season, which in his view cost the team the title, “a real injustice”: “I wanted to be the manager who won the title outside the ‘Old Firm’.”

What changed after the departure

In the weeks after the end of the season, Hearts lost both their manager and their captain: McInnes moved to Ibrox following Scotland international striker Lawrence Shankland. According to AFP, after a poor start McInnes has taken Rangers on a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions. Ahead of the head-to-head meeting, Hearts sit third, four points behind Rangers and eight behind leaders Celtic. It is worth noting that in 41 years no club other than Celtic and Rangers has become Scottish champion — context that shows just how rare Hearts’ chance was last season.