DEREK McInnes last night hit back at Rangers over their suggestion that he had lacked the mental strength to manage the Ibrox club after returning to the dugout with Aberdeen.

A Rangers statement on Thursday evening made a thinly-veiled dig at McInnes for turning down the chance to speak to them after they made an official approach to their Pittodrie rivals.

It read: "The position of Rangers manager requires an ability to win football matches and the mentality to cope with the demanding off-pitch environment. We will only appoint someone in whom we have full confidence and who feels he is ready for the job."

However, the 46-year-old, who led Aberdeen to a 1-0 win win over Dundee at Dens Park that edged them three points clear of Rangers in the Ladbrokes Premiership table, insisted he was confident in his own abilities.

Asked to comment on the statement Rangers released, he said "It’s up to others to comment on that. I just need to concentrate on Aberdeen.

"Each to their own. I’m a very confident guy, confident in my own abilities. When you’ve had a couple of clubs willing to pay the compensation for me in the last few months, it shows I’m doing a good job.

"Everybody has got an opinion. But here were loads of reasons. You consider lots. The one thing that underpinned the whole decision was not wanting to tarnish relationships that have been forged here.

"The players, the staff, supporters, chairman. I wasn’t prepared to rip that up and tarnish the reputation we’ve developed here. Some things are really important. And that underpinned everything."

McInnes added: "There’s been a lot to consider From an official approach going in and decision being made, less than 48 hours. All the speculation that went on beforehand is what dragged it out.

"There was a lot to consider, When you get an opportunity to move on, it’s important you consider it all. It was good just to get back to the game tonight. Hopefully. Now we just concentrate on Aberdeen.

"I want to be talking about performances. Important for supporters who have been put through the wringer, not happy with performances.

"We're still second in the league, good team here, It was important that we sent supporters home happy. Even from the warm-up, the supporters were eager to show their solidarity with everyone here. We’ve managed to send them home happy."

McInnes was delighted that his side, who beat Dundee thanks to a second half Scott McKenna goal, managed to put the saga behind them and get back to winning ways.

"It was a tight game," he said. "We had some good moments in the first half, but it was a bit too frantic. I wanted a bit more control. We anticipated the system Neil (McCann) went with. We played a system to nullify that.

"When they changed, we weren’t getting the chances we wanted. We made the change at half-time and were far better Getting the goal early in the second half was important.

"It was a scrappy goal, but a good goal, important for us. The home team were going to have little flurries but we managed the game well."

McInnes added: "In the latter stages, it was stick or twist. I thought by and large we saw the game out well enough. Individually, The performances were a wee bit more like us. They players took more responsibility for their performances. That was an a Aberdeen type performance.

"I think I said at the start of the night that I was trying to get back to a bit of normality. We’ve been used to winning tight games like this."