Michael Beale faced the media after Rangers crashed out of the Champions League following a 7-3 aggregate defeat to PSV.
Here's everything that he had to say.
Was it a case of a much better team with much better players?
We played against an excellent team over two legs. There were times over the two goals when we did well and scored three goals, but we were bitterly disappointed with the way that we defended in key moments. There was intrigue in the air after we made it 2-1 but we conceded straight away. The story of the two legs is that we couldn’t handle Saibari and De Jong as a team. We had to go for it in the second half and we had opportunities to score. It’s clear to everyone that PSV deserved to go through over the two games and they are an excellent team.
Could playing in the Europa League be a blessing in disguise?
We wanted to get there and then you see what the draw brings. We aren’t going to hide that we are disappointed. We drew the hardest opponent possible at this stage and going into the Europa League looks as strong as ever. This game came far too soon for a group where there have been huge changes.
How far away is this group from the Champions League level?
This group has a way to go because it’s a new team. The most important thing for the fans, players and myself is to get there by our domestic competition - we have to win our home league. We haven’t done that for a few seasons and our focus will be on that. We have a huge game at the weekend and we will pick the bones out of tonight during the international break.
READ MORE: Rangers player ratings from alarming defeat to PSV
Our focus is now on recovery and preparing for the weekend. The target at the start of the season, going into this international break, was to qualify for the Champions League, reach the quarter-final of the cup and to be top of the league. The last one of those objectives is in our hands and we have to focus on that.
How do you pick them up because that was a hammering?
That’s your words, I think they were ruthless. The level between this competition and domestic football is different. We go into the weekend we’ll dust this off. It’s a huge game it’s the perfect game for us to go into. the team we’re playing against don’t go onto it in a fantastic place so it’s an intriguing derby and everything is to play for.
Why couldn’t you deal with PSV’s attackers?
I think they’re a very good team and we found it very hard to deal with De Jong and their No.10, They won the duels with our centre-backs which made the game difficult. As a team, we could’ve shown more quality. I felt we started quite well but ended up sitting deep and couldn’t stay with the ball, partly due to our quality and the way PSV did and their counter-pressing. I won’t sit and say we were terrible because the resistance was stronger than this team has faced this season. The level was too much for us which was clear.
Do more people need to reach Butland’s level?
He’s shown he’s a quality keeper. He was a fantastic signing on a free transfer at his age and his capabilities.
No Ryan Jack, what was the thinking?
Every time I pick a team someone will be surprised that someone is not playing. I don’t think that had any outcome on the outcome of the final part of the game. It’s clear over two legs the better team has gone through, we can pick the bones but I think PSV are a good team and they showed that against us tonight.
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