Aaron is down so it’s up to all of us to raise his spirits and end with SILVERWARE

GERS BOSS GIO URGES FANS AT HAMPDEN TO SUPPORT RAMSEY

BY KEITH JACKSON

GIO VAN BRONCKHORST last night insisted spot kick fall guy Aaron Ramsey is down but not out – and urged the Rangers support to give the heartbroken Welshman a hero’s welcome at Hampden today.

The Ibrox boss admits he’s spent the last two days attempting to raise Ramsey’s spirits following the shoot-out miss which shattered the club’s hopes of landing a first European trophy in 50 years in Seville on Wednesday night.

But despite the crushing pain of that defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, Van Bronckhorst is banking on ‘the Rangers family’ giving his players a massive shot in the arm ahead of this afternoon’s Scottish Cup final showdown with Hearts at the national stadium.

Today will be the Welsh midfielder’s last game for club as his loan deal from Juve comes to a close.

He said: “We’ve all had to deal with the disappointment of Wednesday’s result - and of course Aaron as well.

He was very down after the game and also yesterday.

“So we needed to lift him up. We needed to lift up every player in the squad. But we are focusing now on the final and we have to take the loss as a team.

“We have to support each other as the Rangers family and make sure we are ready to play the final against Hearts.

“Obviously Aaron is very down but we are lifting him up. He has all my support and all the support of his team mates. And I’m sure he will see and feel the same support in the stadium tomorrow when the fans will also welcome him and my team. “When you come so close to achieving silverware the disappointment is very big. “But we have another very important game tomorrow and a chance to win silverware this season. I have full confidence my team will be ready when the whistle goes.” Van Bronckhorst revealed veteran keeper Allan Mcgregor will be back on the subs bench for the end of season showpiece with understudy Jon Mclaughlin continuing his run as a Scottish Cup specialist.

That means Mcgregor may have played his last game for the club – and the manager admitted yesterday that defensive rock Connor Goldson also looks set to take a final bow today after failing to agree a new contract.

He said: “With Allan, we agreed to speak after the season. Regarding Connor, the club has been in talks with him to extend his contract but so far he didn’t extend it.

“The chance that he will still be a Rangers player after tomorrow will be small. As I have said, I would love to have Connor in the team next year but when players are out of contract there are two possibilities – keep playing for Rangers or to move on.

“I still have in my mind that he will be part of Rangers next year. That’s my feeling but the reality we will have to see in the coming weeks.”

Van Bronckhorst also appeared to acknowledge that he will have his work cut out fending off big money offers for Calvin Bassey (left) following the 22-year-old’s stand out performances in Europe.

He said: “His development as a player and a person is amazing to see.

“He’s still young but he’s very open to advice, he wants to be stronger and better every day.

“Of course, I want to work as long as possible with Calvin but if you have these performances in Europe you will get attention.”