RANGERS ‘HURTING’ AFTER LOSS IN SEVILLE

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst said he was very proud of his team despite their heartbreak in Seville.

After watching his side lose their 64th game of the season on penalties, the Dutchman said: “Of course I’m very disappointed because you play the final, you are very close to winning silverware, and we were today as well.

“But in the end you don’t win and the emotions go from possible high to very low. I have had those moments in my career, losing big games, losing the World Cup final. It hurts.

“For now it’s up to us to look ahead. It feels difficult but we have to. We have a big game on Saturday against Hearts for the cup. But we are very, very disappointed.”

Veteran Gers midfielder Steven Davis, who also played in the 2008 Uefa Cup final loss, admitted the pain of defeat was made even worse because of his prematch confidence.

“Once it goes to that stage of the game it’s a lottery,” he told BT Sport.

“We were desperate to come here and send the fans home happy. They have been tremendous for us throughout the whole campaign. The boys have been tremendous. But it hurts tonight.

“I really felt coming here into the game we would go on to win it, so it’s a major disappointment. But at the same time I couldn’t be more proud of all the lads, the staff, the fans, everyone associated with the club.”

John Lundstram declared himself “heartbroken” immediately after the shoot-out ended.

The midfielder told BT Sport: “I’m severely disappointed to lose on penalties – it’s a lottery. Anyone could have missed. I feel we have let everyone down.”