Aaron Ramsey has endured a torrid loan at Rangers
(Picture: Getty Images)Loanee Aaron Ramsey has been told he will have to “live with that for the rest of his life” after his missed penalty saw Rangers miss out on a first European trophy in 50 years.
After 120 minutes couldn’t separate Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt in Sevilla, the Europa League final went to penalties. Ramsey, on loan at the club from Juventus, was brought on with three minutes of extra time to be played for the shootout.
The former Arsenal midfielder was the only player in 10 to fail from 12 yards as Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp saved his weak penalty down the middle to hand the German outfit a 5-4 win, having earlier fought back from 1-0 down in normal time.
After the game, manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst said Ramsey had shown courage in putting his hand up to take a penalty, telling reporters: “Aaron of course was disappointed. But he took responsibility to take the penalty.
“You can make it or you can miss it. Unfortunately for us he didn’t make it but you want to have players taking penalty and who are comfortable also.”
Former Scotland international Pat Nevin described the moment as “torture” for Ramsey, adding on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Every time you lose a cup final is torture. After the work they put in, after the fact they got better as the game went on.
“They really believed. The standard of penalties was astonishingly high except for Ramsey. He has to live with that for the rest of his life.
“What an opportunity Rangers had. They'll kick themselves. It was there to be won. Had they had [Alfredo] Morelos and [Kemar] Roofe been fit I think they'd be walking away with this trophy.”
Rangers were bidding for their first European trophy in half a century and could have clinched the game in the 118th minute when substitute Kemar Roofe flashed a ball across the box to Ryan Kent but the winger's low shot was superbly kept out by Trapp.
"Of course we had a big chance in the end," said Van Bronckhorst. "I think it was a great save. In those minutes towards the end of the game it is decisive.
"Ryan did everything he could to score the goal. When you get these big chances you have to take them, especially in the final minutes, but Ryan did everything he could."
Rangers, who finished second behind Celtic in the league, take on Hearts in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday.
