Giovanni van Bronckhorst admits he can't explain how Rangers allowed Liverpool to romp to historic victory in the Champions League.
The Scottish Premiership side took a first-half lead only to collapse in dramatic fashion in the final 20 minutes as they slumped to a 7-1 defeat at Ibrox on Wednesday evening.
It was the heaviest loss suffered by a Scottish side against English opposition in European competition, and also matched Rangers’ worst defeat in their history.
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And a downhearted Van Bronckhorst said: “It’s very hard to explain at the moment. I’m still processing the second half. I cannot explain it.
“We started the game really well first half, played really well. We knew the strength of Liverpool with their pressing and played well over their press with balls behind the defence and playing for the second ball. We scored the goal in a great transition moment.
“But we gave the corner away and we knew if you play short passes after short passes they will press you and it was the first moment we did it and got the goal against.”
While Liverpool have guaranteed at least Europa League football in the New Year, Rangers have now lost all four group games on their first appearance in the Champions League group stage for a decade.
And Van Bronckhorst added: “After the 3-1, you could see we were set up playing too short and they punished us four times with their transitions.
“In the last 20 minutes we were not in the game, not with our heads, not with the decisions we make. When Liverpool put Thiago, Jota and Salah on and you’re not in the game, you get punished.
“The first half and the last half-hour was night and day. The difference in level is too much in the Champions League. In the first hour we were there and can make it difficult for any opponent at Ibrox, but the last half-hour we would lose to anyone with that performance.
“The whole dressing room was quiet because everyone feels the loss. Sometimes when emotions are high it’s better not to speak.
“There is no excuse for this performance from anyone we will get criticism and we have to take it on the chin.”
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