Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez didn't hold back after Sunday's Old Firm derby defeat, admitting his side simply lacked the fight needed to take on Celtic. The 3-1 loss at Celtic Park marked a third consecutive defeat for Danny Rohl's team, effectively ending their hopes of lifting the Premiership title this season.

It was a painful afternoon for the Gers, especially after they had taken the lead. But two goals in four second-half minutes from Celtic turned the match on its head, leaving Rangers to rue another inconsistent performance. The result now puts extra pressure on the Scottish Cup final, where Rangers will be hoping Celtic can beat Dunfermline. Why? Because anything less could see Rangers drop from the Europa League into the Conference League qualifiers next season—a significant step down in competition and prestige.

Fernandez, 24, didn't shy away from the truth when reflecting on the defeat. "I couldn't pinpoint an issue, I just feel like maybe we needed to have a bit more fight," he said. "We knew it was going to be a fight. There were moments in games where we had fight. But in football there are going to be moments where you are going to struggle and go under in the 90 minutes."

The defender emphasized that this is a learning moment for a young squad still finding its identity. "I feel that, as a young team if we are going to grow, if you are going to struggle you stick together and all defend together. Then, when you come out of it, you have opportunities to score. That is something we have to improve on."

With three straight losses now on the board, questions about the team's mentality are inevitable—especially from pundits and fans who expect more from a club of Rangers' stature. Fernandez understands the scrutiny but pushes back on the idea that mindset is the root problem. "This is going to happen when you lose three games in a row. I feel like when it comes to the point where you could potentially win the title people are going to question your mentality. Look, I don't think it has anything to do with the mentality, I just think there are moments where we need to do better. Sometimes, this happens in football, sometimes you come under duress, and we just didn't come through it. I wouldn't say it has anything to do with mentality."