It was a night to forget for Rangers in Amsterdam as they kicked off their Champions League group stage campaign.
It was the Ibrox outfit's first time dining at European football's top table in 12 years as they took on Ajax away, but it was certainly as tough as test as some predicted it would be. The Light Blues were up against an unforgiving Dutch side who showed exactly why they took the top seed in the section. But the visitors didn't put up much of a fight, displaying another below par performance in front of the eyes of Europe.
It was a painfully familiar scoreline on the back of the Old Firm flop on Saturday. Two 4-0 defeats on the bounce is certainly not something Rangers are used to. And the Govan side still have huge challenges ahead in the competition. Napoli make their way to Glasgow to meet Gio van Bronckhorst 's men before a double header against Liverpool. It could be a long few weeks, with lots left unhappy after tonight's display.
Here is what the pundits had to say following the final whistle at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Ally McCoist
The striker legend was unhappy with Ryan Kent straying into an offside position before setting up Borna Barisic for his goal that was ruled out by VAR.
“If you’re a winger or a wide man you look across the line, particularly when the ball is not on your side and is coming in at an angle. The ball travels 50, 60 yards. Get yourself on. It’s just a matter of running an extra yard. It’s laziness. He can play, there’s no doubt about it but it’s a mental laziness not to go the extra two yards and it ends up costing your left back and a your team-mates a great goal.”
And on the insipid display he said: “The dream turned into a nightmare. Anything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. There’s no spirit. It doesn’t look like there’s any fight. There’s a lack of belief or no belief at all. Two of the three first goals were horrendous. We said Saturday at Celtic Park was a bad day at the office. This was equally as bad. It’s really concerning, maybe even moreso because a lot of Rangers fans were looking for a reaction to Saturday and they didn’t get it.”
Kenny Miller
“I hate saying it but it didn’t look like there was much fight or togetherness on the pitch. And on the back of a 4-0 mauling by your biggest domestic rivals, you’d be expecting a reaction. This team have turned up over and over in Europe over the last few years but this is not the way to have started a Champions League campaign.
“They have to prepare themselves for what’s coming because back to back 4-0s is not acceptable at this football club. There will be a lot of criticism flying towards the manager and players but they need to get themselves ready for it because they’ve got a huge game away at Pittodrie on Sunday.
“I don’t know how many free headers are going to be given up from corners or free kicks. It was almost identical to the goal conceded against PSV. There were six players under the ball. When you go zonal - which Rangers clearly are - you have to go and attack it. They need to give the players the responsibility of picking up. The characteristics of the players aren’t suited to that set up.
"This is seven of the team that took Rangers to the Europa League final. I don't think there's the same energy or belief in the team to go and compete at this level. It was there in the PSV game but there's something missing. You look at the running stats, you need to outrun teams."
Kris Boyd
"Rangers were totally outclassed tonight with a very good Ajax team. I know a lot of people will say that's what you get the top of the Champions League but I don't even think Ajax are a top end side.
"They're a very good team but from Rangers' point of view, they were way off it tonight. Lacking responsibility in terms of picking up your men at set-plays, far too easy, very passive, not getting near anyone. It was a very, very disappointing return to the elite of European football for Rangers.
"Losing 4-0 at the weekend, 4-0 again tonight and you go to Aberdeen at the weekend. The players are going to have to deal with the criticism that's coming their way. They have to pick themselves up and go again but it's not going to be easy at Aberdeen. Giovanni van Bronckhorst has a big job between now and Saturday."
Mark Hateley
"I think it was clear to see for everyone. The first [Rangers] corner came in the 92nd minute and that tells the whole story.
"This is Champions League now. This is the Champions League level and if you are going to be in this competition then you've got to do more than what we've seen tonight from Rangers.
"I thought it was poor in literally every department. We don't even know if Ajax are a good back four or a back three? If the goalkeeper is any good?
"It was as comfortable a game I've seen for a home side in Champions League."
Tom English
"It was a dreadful performance. The players were outplayed and out-thought, the manager was poor, and Ross Wilson has to take a chunk of blame for the recruitment.
"They are a worse team now than they were last season. Defensively not good enough, the midfield a non-entity, and offensively not at the races."
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