Rangers criticism isn't something I look at - and why I didn't want to risk injury

On a day where Rangers lost captain Lawrence Shankland to a hamstring injury for the next few months, there was some better news from centre-half Emmanuel Fernandez after coming off in the dying stages of the 1-0 win over Motherwell at Ibrox.

“Yeah, I just had a little niggle,” reported the centre-half, “but I didn't want to risk too much and I just wanted to leave myself in a situation where I feel better for the next game coming up.”

Rangers’ diary is intense: St Mirren on Wednesday at home, followed by two Old Firm matches against Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup and then the league. They go into those matches in good fettle after winning three games in six days.

Emmanuel Fernandez played well for Rangers against Motherwell. | SNS Group

The victory over Motherwell could have been more straightforward after Ryan Naderi’s 12th-minute opener. Kim Minsu missed a penalty and there were big chances not taken by Djeidi Gassama, Daisuke Yokota and Kevin Kelsy. One goal, nevertheless, was enough. Motherwell weren’t able to properly trouble the hosts.

Fernandez was part of the reason for that. He played well in defence amid some criticism over his own recent individual displays. “Ah, to be fair, I don't really look into what is said about me,” the Nigerian said, almost as nonchalantly as some of his passes. “I just try to focus on myself and try and improve being better.

“Every day I want to be better. I know when something I've done is bad and I know that I need to improve on it. But it's something, like I'm still growing as a player and something I know that I will improve on eventually. And I just focus on the demands of the club and myself as well.”

His manager Derek McInnes is demanding more from Fernandez. “Maybe it's just concentration in moments,” said the defender. “Like, if we do have a chat, it's concentration in moments, the small things. Sometimes they're the ones that could cause a goal to come against us or attack to come against us, and it's limiting opportunities for teams to have attacks against us. And that's the main thing we talk about.”

There were no wobbles against Motherwell. In fact, Fernandez showed just how good he can be when he is fully focused. He also has a solid partner at centre-half in Olwethu Makhanya, the 22-year-old South African who has settled well at Ibrox since his summer signing from Philadelphia Union.

Fernandez is enjoying watching the relationship blossom. “Yeah, it's growing over the last course of the four or five games we played together,” he said. “I feel like it's difficult when new people come in.

“I know we've had a lot of changes this year and I played with a few different centre-backs last season, and now there's a new one. So you learn to understand people and I feel like it's growing and I feel like the team's growing as well. And I feel like that's what we need.”

With the transfer window now shut, Fernandez believes Rangers’ squad will benefit from clarity. “Everything settles around the club,” he added. “All the anxiety of what's going on settles and I feel like that's where the team understands that this person is going to be beside them the next game, and this person is going to be here for the foreseeable future. And I feel like that's what you need as a team. Uncertainty whether who's going to be here is a bit difficult.”