RANGERS punched above their weight in the Europa League. The step up a division alongside the real heavyweights has delivered a knockout blow.
The coming days will see Giovanni van Bronckhorst attempt to lift his side off the canvas and ensure that they come out swinging in their three remaining Premiership fixtures before the World Cup break.
But the full analysis of just where Rangers are, and why this continental campaign has gone so badly wrong, will be a longer process to conclude as the blood is wiped from noses and the smelling salts used. On and off the park, it will be a period of soul-searching at Ibrox.
The simple, all-encapsulating answer is that Rangers are just not cut out for the highest level of European competition right now. Yet the issues - ranging from tactics to transfers - will not be lumped together by a support that have suffered too many blows over recent weeks.
Rangers have gone from the brink of Europa League glory to becoming the worst performing side in the history of the Champions League and defeat to Ajax on Tuesday night was another humbling occasion for Van Bronckhorst and his players.
Overcoming Ajax, never mind Liverpool and Napoli, was always going to be a tough task. Ultimately, defender Borna Barisic admits it was an impossible mission for Rangers.
"I cannot be happy because we lost, against a good side," Barisic said. "We wanted to have a positive result to end Champions League and we are disappointed.
"Not many positives. We are disappointed. We wanted to play in the Champions League.
"We qualified, which was a good thing, and we wanted to enjoy it, but it was a very tough campaign for us. We learned a lot. We want to achieve it next year and be better.
"It didn't happen because this is Champions League. It's another level. No-one expected that we would do well in the Europa League and we go into the Champions League and try to play our part... I mean, there are clubs with squads of £400, 500, 600 million.
"Our group was very tough, but we need to respect the opponent and talk about that also. We tried, we learned, we are not happy because of this.
"This is Champions League, not Europa League. And also, if we are talking about last year, the final was a big achievement if you look at which squads we play."
The road to Seville saw Rangers triumph against Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, Braga and RB Leipzig before they fell agonisingly short and were beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt.
It was a run that enhanced individual and collective reputations but the feelgood factor from that historic achievement has now been swept away by a Group A campaign that saw Van Bronckhorst's side finish pointless and with the ignominy of a -20 goal difference.
Expectations were raised last term. The new bar proved to be outwith the reach of a squad that has had issues to contend with throughout the section.
"With all due respect, I don't think Dortmund are better than Napoli, or Liverpool, or even Ajax," Barisic said. "That's my opinion at this moment.
"We can now analyse all night what's happened, but you know, we also have a lot of injured players. It's not easy to play on three fronts with the squad.
"You watch it on TV. I don't think many of us had played Champions League, maybe one or two - it doesn't matter. When you watch on TV, it is something else compared to when you play.
"And then you have all the injured players ... it is not an excuse, but that's the reality. We are playing against teams that are four, five, six times more expensive than us.
"We need to be realistic, but we learned a lot and we want to achieve that next year. With more experience, we will be better."
The Champions League has been chastening for Rangers but the trials and tribulations cannot put them off the competition forever and the target must be to return as soon as possible.
There is a sound argument to say that the second tier of European action is where Rangers, and Celtic for that matter, should set their sights and where they would be comfortable and competitive.
But these torturous six fixtures have only served to whet the appetite for Barisic as focus shifts to the race to be become champions of Scotland and, in turn, secure a seat at the top table next term.
"Of course," Barisic said when asked if this campaign has made him hungrier to return as soon as possible. "When you experience Champions League, you want to play it again next year. We will do everything to be there.
"It's hard to say [if the Europa League is the level for Scottish football]. Sometimes results show you. They are not the same level, you can see that.
"We also had a very hard group and we have not been at that level. You can see our results, that's the reality. They are just better than us.
"I agree with you [that we need to kick-on now]. That's the one thing that we need to do. I think that every time when we played Champions League and we lose a game, of course we are disappointed, not just physically but you are tired.
"Mentally, you know they are tough teams but whenever you lose you don't feel good ... we need to clear our heads, we need to put it to one side. Champions League is unfortunately finished for us. We need now to look forward to leagues and cups."
