Michael Beale insisted the buck stopped with him after Rangers saw their Champions League dreams end in a nightmare defeat to PSV Eindhoven.
The visitors crashed to a 5-1 loss at the Philips Stadion and will now drop into the Europa League following the heaviest reverse of Beale’s tenure as manager.
James Tavernier gave Rangers hope after Ismael Saibiri had put Peter Bosz’s side in control but Luuk de Jong and Joey Veerman netted and Connor Goldson scored an own goal on a disastrous night in Holland.
Rangers must now pick themselves up for their significant Old Firm clash with Celtic on Sunday and Beale admits their European exit was a tough blow to take.
Beale said: “Obviously hugely disappointed with the result tonight. I felt over the two legs we were unable to handle De Jong and Saibari, the two forwards, in both legs.
“In key moments in the game, certainly at set plays as well, we concede. Listen, the buck stops with me. I wasn’t happy with losing the way that we lost tonight.
“There were moments in the game that could have gone for us. I thought there were moments in the second half and some other opportunities didn’t go for us but it is obviously bitterly frustrating.
“If you look at the Europa League this year, there are lots of good teams in it. We will wait and see what happens with the draw.
“For us coming into the first September international break, the aim was to get into the Champions League, get into the quarter-finals of the cup and to end this first period of league fixtures as high up or in front if we can. That is still in our hands.
“Today is obviously bitterly disappointing to be out of the Champions League but we played against an excellent team.
“An apology to the fans that came across. They stuck with the team in both legs and they expect a little bit more than what they got.”
