THE Champions League dream was 12 years in the making for Rangers. It turned into a nightmare inside 90 humbling, humiliating minutes against Ajax.
For the second time in just a few damaging days, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were lucky. Like their abject defeat to Celtic at the weekend, Rangers got away with one here.
This could have been worse, it could have been much worse. The 4-0 score line tells of the gulf between the teams on the night but a match that was difficult to watch, one that was painful for supporters to endure, was a truer reflection of just how much Van Bronckhorst’s side were outclassed.
The trip to the Johan Cruijff ArenA should have been one for fans to savour. This was Rangers back in the big time, back where the club feels they belong.
Those days spent traipsing up, down and across the country in the lower leagues felt so far away. A return to the elite level of European football marked the end of the struggle and was a reward for time, effort and money invested to save the club and then restore it.
Rangers will never forget where they have come from. This was a reminder of where they are, though, evidence of how far they have still got to go just months after their defeat in the Europa League final.
It remains to be seen if Van Bronckhorst will be the man to take them on those next steps and his future as manager is now very much up for discussion. Talks inside the Ibrox boardroom will determine his fate but the decision makers should look themselves in the mirror as well and question if they are the right men to lead Rangers.
The situation cannot simply focus on Van Bronckhorst and there are issues at all levels which need addressed before Rangers operate like a Champions League club.
Questions and concerns will continue to be raised about the strength and depth of this team and squad and the regression of Rangers should shame everyone on and off the park.
Van Bronckhorst defended his decision not to add to his ranks during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday evening and he needed his players to repay the faith. This was a performance devoid of nous but, more tellingly, one without heart.
It further exposed the paucity of what the Dutchman is working with. It was added evidence, not that it was needed, that this group is nowhere near Champions League standard and doubts remain over just what, if anything, it will be able to achieve domestically.
The side all-but picked itself. The one position that was perhaps up for grabs went to Scott Wright and the fact that he started summed up the issues with recruitment that have angered supporters so much in recent days.
At the other end of the park, it was no surprise to see Jon McLaughlin retain his spot. His status as number one has never really been secure in the minds of many this term, and it has certainly been up for debate in the aftermath of his Old Firm horror show.
Van Bronckhorst twice had the chance to state that McLaughlin would retain the gloves when he addressed the media but both answers were not exactly definitive. He said enough to suggest there would be no U-turn, however, and McLaughlin started as expected.
He may have wished that he hadn’t. This was a torturous night for Rangers and the remaining Group A fixtures with Napoli and Liverpool, plus the visit of Alfred Schreuder’s side to Ibrox, are ominous.
This famous arena, now named after Ajax’s most revered son, was fitting of such an occasion as the group stages kicked off. The teachings and successes of Cruyff adorn the walls and a statue of the father of Total Football watches over everyone who enters.
It was Rangers who were taught a lesson here. Like the Old Firm fixture at the weekend, this one was done by the break as Ajax scored three times in 16 exhilarating minutes and Rangers were outfought and outclassed.
The defending – particularly for the opening goal as Edson Alvarez was left unmarked to head home from a corner – was unfathomably amateur. It is quite something to be as continually woeful at set-pieces, but Rangers keep outdoing themselves in that regard.
The second goal won the game, although the result wasn’t exactly ever in doubt. There was a degree of misfortune about it as James Sands, culpable for failing to challenge in the air just minutes earlier, saw a half-hearted attempt at a block inadvertently divert a Steven Berghuis strike beyond McLaughlin.
Within minutes, McLaughlin had to pick the ball out of his net once again. The finish from Mohammed Kudus, after he breezed away from James Tavernier, was emphatic on the angle as a powerful strike found the far corner.
Rangers would re-emerge for the second half with ‘Three Little Birds’ ringing in their ears over the PA system. Van Bronckhorst had plenty of things to worry about though as the home fans sang that every little thing would be alright.
Tavernier was one of three players hooked at the break. Wright and Malik Tillman joined him as Leon King filled in at right-back, Rabbi Matondo went wide and Jack took John Lundstram’s midfield place as he dropped a line to form a bank of five.
It was a damage limitation job now for Van Bronckhorst. Ajax continued to attack with speed of thought and movement as Rangers, camped in and slowly counting down the minutes, saw McLaughlin make a couple of saves to keep it at three.
When Rangers thought they had reduced the arrears thanks a lovely Borna Barisic finish, a VAR check and belated offside call denied them. It was one of those nights and the fourth arrived within the finishing line in sight.
The wayward pass from Jack was symptomatic of Rangers. A composed finish from Steven Bergwijn was typical of Ajax as he rounded McLaughlin and slotted home.
That, mercifully for Rangers, was that. An occasion that crushed expectations and ambitions raised fears and questions.
Van Bronckhorst and his players have plenty to answer. So do others, once again, at Ibrox.
