It was the cruellest of endings to the most magical of journeys. To lose on penalties was the toughest of blows but if you think I’ll criticise this squad, then you are wrong. What they have given us and what they achieved was sensational, against all the odds.

I could pick the bones out of it. Do I think we played our best? No, certainly not. Our biggest stars didn’t shine so brightly on the occasion and that is disappointing but it’s football. Should Connor Goldson stick out his foot? Should Kemar Roofe come on earlier? What if Ryan Kent just steered that shot a bit wider? We are talking about fractions that will only make it even harder to digest.

Seville was beautiful and fans mixed together as both looked forward to a classic final. The heat was barely bearable for us fair-weathered Scots (and I have no doubts it also took its toll on some of the players). By plane and car they came to support their team, even as I write this I still face a trek through Portugal then a flight back to East Midlands, followed by a five and a half-hour drive home. It’s all for the team though and football fans do it everywhere in the world.

Of course, it will sting for quite a while but that’s football and we simply have no time to mope around. The Scottish Cup looms large and we have to reset to ensure that trophy returns to Ibrox. Silverware is the least this squad deserves but they have to go and deliver it.

It will be tough because that dressing room will be hurting but it will be the last hurrah for many of them in a Rangers shirt and it would be really disappointing if one league title was all they had to show for it. Much of the squad will be broken up and move on, others may retire. Some big characters will be lost but that refreshment is exactly what the squad needs.

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What this European adventure will give offer is the finances to perhaps offer Gio a bit more than what we perhaps budgeted for. The manager has earned the trust to at least try and reshuffle this squad more to his requirements. The fact we have managed to get this far in Europe with no recognised striker, is a perfect showcase of his capabilities. But like everyone else, he will be judged on trophies.

When Rangers delivered 55 they had an active goal threat from Alfredo, Hagi and Roofe. That has been largely ripped away from us all season and Rangers' task, or more pertinently Gio’s task, is to get more attacking menace into the side and establish who he can work with in the long term.

But that’s all for later, we have to ensure that we pick ourselves up immediately as unthinkable as it currently may be. The Scottish Cup isn’t what we set ourselves up for, it doesn’t amount to a successful season but it will be a consolation and small reward for the disappointment of this harsh European final.

Hearts will be fresh, they will smell blood and they will want just rewards for a season which has brought a third-place finish and guaranteed European group football. They will be extremely tough opposition.

At the moment, it’s hard for me to think about, and every supporter will feel the same but come Saturday we will go again.

Rangers have to ensure they do also.