---
title: "Rangers have two defensive risks to consider for Aberdeen Hampden clash: opinion"
canonical: "https://readrangers.com/2026/10/29/derek-mcinnes-rangers-risks-aberdeen-hampden"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Graeme Hanna"
section: "Articles and Opinions"
published: "2026-10-29T18:40:16Z"
modified: "2026-10-29T18:40:16Z"
---

# Rangers have two defensive risks to consider for Aberdeen Hampden clash: opinion

**Rangers have two defensive risks to consider ahead of Saturday’s League Cup semi-final meeting with Aberdeen at Hampden Park.**

For different reasons, Derek McInnes should be thinking hard about his starting lineup, with decisions to be made all over the pitch.

After the St. Johnstone and Hearts games, there are questions in midfield and attack, but the defence in particular is worth further scrutiny.

Can Rangers afford to start Manny Fernandez and Dujon Sterling against Aberdeen?

## Questions over Fernandez and Sterling

Manny Fernandez has come in for a lot of stick after his performance against Hearts.

The [2-2 draw](https://readrangers.com/2026/10/28/hearts-2-rangers-2-full-time-report) brought more lapses in concentration, one of which got Nico Raskin booked, as well as poor choices in positioning and use of the ball.

He was exposed too often, in comparison to the high level displayed by Olwethu Makhanya.

The problem is the huge disparity between Fernandez’s floor and his ceiling. His application was nowhere near good enough.

In Thursday’s press conference, Derek McInnes gave his full support to the former Peterborough player, with the message that he doesn’t hear about Manny when he’s playing well.

That’s true to an extent, but he’s supposed to be a starting central defender for Rangers. He switches off far too often, and he gets teammates into trouble.

## What about Sterling?

Dujon Sterling had a poor night against Hearts. He was given a torrid evening by Josh McPake.

It’s not because of poor form – or that miss – that Sterling should be dropped, but is he able to play three games in a week?

Previously, he has struggled with that volume, and it may be for the greater good if he doesn’t start against Aberdeen.

That is one of the decisions that [Derek McInnes](https://readrangers.com/2026/10/29/how-mcinnes-fix-rangers-sticky-patch-form) will be required to make.

Ben Godfrey is likely to be the beneficiary if a change is made, in place of Fernandez or Sterling.

Against St. Johnstone, he replaced Sterling while Kosta Nedeljkovic was overlooked. McInnes praised Godfrey’s levels in training as the influence for that call.

He has another few key decisions to make for the weekend ahead.