Rangers news: Giovanni Van Bronckhorst unable to hide disappointment after Europa final heartbreak
- Planet Sport writer
- 19 May 2022
Rangers missed out on Europa League glory on Wednesday evening, after Eintracht Frankfurt won a dramatic penalty shootout.
Rangers manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst struggled to contain his disappointment after his side lost the Europa League final to Eintracht Frankfurt in a penalty shootout.
It appeared to be going Rangers' way when Joel Aribo slotted home in the second half to give them the lead, but Rafael Borre coolly levelled just 12 minutes later.
Extra time could not separate them, meaning penalties were required. The only man to miss was Rangers' Aaron Ramsey, allowing Borre to step up and win it for the Bundesliga side.
"Of course I'm very disappointed because you play the final, you are very close to winning silverware, and we were today as well," Van Bronckhorst said.
"But in the end you don't win and the emotions go from possible high to very low. I have had those moments in my career, losing big games, losing the World Cup final. It hurts.
"For now it's up to us to look ahead. It feels difficult but we have to. We have a big game on Saturday against Hearts for the cup. But we are very, very disappointed."
Midfielder John Lundstram echoed those words from his manager, saying it is the Rangers fans for whom he feels most.
"I'm severely disappointed," he said. "To lose on penalties, it's a lottery, anyone could have missed.
"I feel we have let everyone down. Everyone has travelled out here. There's three-quarters of the stadium Rangers fans and to let everyone down is heart-breaking.
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Rafael Borré with ice in his veins for the winning penalty 🎯#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/tOT7lVQECu
"The boys put the graft in as much as we could but it just wasn't to be."
Veteran Steven Davis came close to winning it for Rangers in extra time and slotted him his kick in the penalty shootout.
However, he was keen to take the positives out of a memorable cup run for the Glasgow giants.
"Once it goes to that stage of the game it's a lottery," he told BT Sport.
"We were desperate to come here and send the fans home happy. They have been tremendous for us throughout the whole campaign. The boys have been tremendous. But it hurts tonight.
"I really felt coming here into the game we would go on to win it, so it's a major disappointment. But at the same time I couldn't be more proud of all the lads, the staff, the fans, everyone associated with the club."
