Brian Laudrup reckons Rangers' nightmare at Celtic Park has killed the buzz around their return to the Champions League.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst 's side are back in the big time but face Ajax on Wednesday still smarting from a 4-0 defeat to their city rivals at the weekend. The Ibrox side were dismantled by the reigning Premiership champions and are now five points adrift in the title race after just six games.
Europe has been Rangers' forte under Van Bronckhorst but Laudrup admits excitement over a trip to the Amsterdam ArenA has been soured by the derby drubbing. He wrote in the Daily Mail: "I would love it if Rangers going to Ajax was the only thing on my mind. The club where I spent the best years of my career against the club where I had a hugely enjoyable final season. It should be the focus of all the attention. But a shadow has been cast over tomorrow night's Champions League opener.
"Saturday at Celtic Park saw to that. I couldn't believe what I was watching. Turning away from the nightmare on the television, I had to check the calendar and make sure it wasn't February 2 again.
"At least when Rangers lost 3-0 back then, they might and I only say might have had the slightest bit of an excuse from Celtic's 100mph approach being relatively new. Obviously, that doesn't apply now.
"How could the players not learn their lesson? I just don't get it. You can talk about signings and tactics and everything else. These are all valid debates.
"But a good part of the debacle witnessed at the weekend was down to something much simpler. Mentality. Doing the basics of actually concentrating in a derby game when your focus should be at its sharpest.
"Everything was also much too slow and there was no creativity. It was really concerning to see. You can't just single out one or two people here. The whole Rangers group failed to deliver.
"Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his management team have experienced this twice in an Old Firm game now. For anyone in charge of Rangers, that's a lot to carry.
"The one thing giving me a little bit of optimism is the immediate response Van Bronckhorst summoned after February 2. Rangers regrouped and, within 15 days, had beaten Borussia Dortmund in Germany to show their season, in Europe at least, could still be something special.
"Another huge reaction is needed now. No question about that. There are four games in the fortnight until the next international break Ajax, Aberdeen, Napoli and Dundee United. Four big performances are needed to rebuild belief."
