GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST admits consistency will be key if Rangers are to add more silverware to the Ibrox Trophy Room next term.
The Dutchman collected his first winners medal as manager on Saturday as Hearts were beaten in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden.
Ryan Jack and Scott Wright struck in extra-time to secure the silverware and ensure Rangers bounced back from their Europa League final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Van Bronckhorst saw his side squander a lead in the Premiership title race during the second half of the season as their reign as champions came to an end after just one campaign.
But a difficult month would end on a positive note as the cup was won for the first time since 2009 and the Ibrox boss got off and running in terms of medal successes.
A summer of change is now on the cards and Van Bronckhorst has pinpointed one key area where Rangers must improve if they are to bring the league flag back across Glasgow next time out.
Van Bronckhorst said: "It’s been quite a demanding season. The run we had in Europe meant we had to play so many games after the break with two games almost every week.
"We had some players injured so we had to adjust our line-up. Players had to play in different roles but everyone was there to take the challenge.
"It’s always nice when you get so much hard work out of your players, but also my staff, medical staff, background staff.
"Also the fans who supported us throughout all the games we played. It’s always always nice to bring silverware to the club.
"In the season, we need to have a good run and stability. The consistency we had in Europe we didn’t have in the league where we lost too many points in the last minutes of the game.
"They were games we should have won earlier. If you drop too many points in the games, you fall behind.
"That was the difference between us and Celtic. Celtic had a very consistent run and that’s why they are the champions this year."
Rangers rose to the occasion at Hampden and should have had the final won inside regulation time as a series of chances were missed during a largely one-sided final.
It would take a thunderbolt from Jack and neat Wright finish to break Hearts in the end as Van Bronckhorst's side powered through another 120 minutes just days after their shoot-out defeat in Seville.
Former kit man Jimmy Bell was laid to rest on Friday afternoon and the difficult preparation for the Hampden clash made the performance and the result all the more impressive from Rangers.
Van Bronckhorst said: "It means a lot for us this trophy. We have been working really hard the last weeks and months to bring silverware to the club.
"We were close on Wednesday in a big European cup. We lost it so we were quite disappointed and very down.
"To pick up the pieces and move on was the key after the game. It was a short preparation for the game.
"[Friday] was a very emotional day with the farewell of Jimmy. We trained in the afternoon. We only had the first meeting for this game in the morning [on Saturday].
"But the players were there to bring success for this club. We wanted to win for Jimmy. You couldn’t see us having problems with our physical condition.
"In extra time we were the stronger team. They were dropping their energy levels and we got stronger and stronger. I’m really proud of the players."
