McInnes reveals 'guilt' over Hearts exit ahead of return with Rangers, live on Sky

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Kickjolly · AI-written · automatically reviewed · Sky Sports ↗ · BBC Sport ↗

Derek McInnes, the Rangers manager, has spoken about feeling 'guilt' over his decision to leave Hearts for Rangers in the summer, according to reports by Sky Sports and BBC Sport. McInnes left Hearts after they came close to winning the Scottish Premiership title but ultimately lost it to Celtic. He described his time at Hearts as a 'breath of fresh air' for Scottish football and expressed pride in what the team achieved. McInnes' comments were made ahead of his return to Tynecastle with Rangers.

McInnes acknowledged that he understands if the Hearts fans give him a rough reception upon his return, citing the 'guilt' he felt about leaving the club. He mentioned that the team was 'hurting' and 'mourning' after the title loss and that he felt 'let down and flat' when key players like Lawrence Shankland decided to leave. McInnes accepts that his decision to follow Shankland to Rangers might have contributed to the negative feelings towards him.

Despite anticipating a potentially hostile reception, McInnes expressed that his feelings about his time at Hearts remain unchanged. He believes there was an 'injustice' at the end of the season, pointing to contentious decisions that went against Hearts, and feels that they should have won the title. McInnes hopes for a mutual acknowledgment between him and the fans, though he understands this is unlikely.