Sifting through the DEBRIS
Rangers must now regroup and take harsh lessons from Seville into
AMASS clean-up operation got under way in Seville early yesterday morning in the aftermath of the Europa League final.
The bloodbath that so many had feared and predicted when Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers made it through to the match in the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium failed to materialise.
But having 10s of thousands of visitors partying hard in the sunshine this week took an inevitable toll on the picturesque Spanish city.
The parks and streets were strewn with the detritus from the festivities as dawn broke. Many hours of hard work lie ahead before life gets back to normal for residents.
Rangers, too, will sift through the charred wreckage of their bid to win the Europa League, which came crashing to an abrupt and agonising end late on Wednesday evening when Eintracht striker Rafael Borre buried the decisive penalty in the shoot-out, in the days ahead.
What can they take away from their campaign? Can they build on what they achieved? How can they regroup after such a crushing disappointment? Is the painful loss just the end of an unforgettable season? Or is it simply the start of what is going to be a golden era in Govan?
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were far from their best against Oliver Glasner’s team. Too many players failed to perform as well as they had against Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, Braga and RB Leipzig in the knockout rounds this year. But by no means were they outplayed by their opponents.
The margins between success and failure are infinitesimal. If Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp had not been so well positioned when Rangers winger Ryan Kent met a Kemar Roofe cut back with a close-range shot just a couple of minutes before the end of extra-time then the final outcome would have been different.
The Glasgow giants’ followers stayed long after the final whistle despite their bitter disappointment at the reverse and applauded as they fought back tears. It has been a hell of a journey for the supporters, one none of them will ever forget. They wanted to show their appreciation for their efforts. James Tavernier and his team-mates were deserving of such an ovation.
The win over Slavia Prague last year, the rout of Dortmund away, the fightback against Red Star in Belgrade, the extra-time strike against Braga, the late winner against Leipzig, the opener against Eintracht, are all memories which will last a lifetime.
Not just for fans either. It was wonderful for Scottish football to see one of their teams demolish Czech, German, Serbian and Portuguese opponents.
But is this season a one-off or is it a flavour of what is to come under their Dutch coach?
Van Bronckhorst has justified the decision to bring him in to replace Steven Gerrard back in November and then some. The former Champions League winner and World Cup finalist has shown himself to be tactically astute and comfortable operating at a very high level against extremely good rivals.
To take a team which cost little over £12m through to the final of the Europa League and come within a single spot kick of prevailing is, despite the final result, an achievement that ranks alongside any in the history of Scottish football. He has also given fans cause to be optimistic for the future.
He effectively masterminded Rangers’ passage to the final using the players he had inherited from his predecessor. How will he fare, then, when he has been able to strengthen his squad with his own men? It is an intriguing prospect.
Rangers posted losses of £23.5m in the past financial year despite winning their first Scottish title in 10 years last season. Those alarming, Covid19-affected figures meant that Gerrard was unable to strengthen significantly last summer and Van Bronkhorst did limited business in the January window.
Yet, the run to Seville will have banked them, not including gate receipts from their home games, in the region of £15m. Add in the increased revenue from match days following the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, and they should pocket at least £5m more than they did last term, and the £12m sale of Nathan Patterson to Everton and the outlook suddenly becomes far brighter.
Operating within their means is, or at least should be, as important as winning titles and trophies for Rangers given everything they have endured off the field during the past decade. So it is unclear how much Van Bronckhorst will have to spend. But he and his coaching staff have quickly stamped their authority on the squad. There is a template there for them to build on regardless of who moves on and who arrives. Can qualification for the Champions League group stage be secured? There is every chance.
Rangers lost a six-point lead in the cinch Premiership and allowed their city rivals Celtic
Is this season just a one-off or is it a flavour of what is to come under their Dutch coach?
to reclaim the league trophy after Van Bronckhorst took over from Gerrard. Domestically, he must do better. But the Scottish Cup semi-final win at Hampden last month and the draw at Parkhead this month indicated he can.
Allan McGregor is nearing the end of his career, Connor Goldson has declined to sign a new contract, Borna Barisic, Calvin Bassey, Glen Kamara, Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Joe Aribo could easily be the subject of bids and Steven Davis has become a peripheral figure.
There is, though, much for Rangers to look forward to under Van Bronckhorst. Yes, the Europa League final loss was devastating. But many will be keen to remain and be a part of what he is building. It will be interesting to see what emerges from the debris next season.