BRAHIM HEMDANI last night insisted crashing out of the Champions League with Rangers hurt as much as losing the UEFA Cup Final with Marseille.
The Ibrox midfielder skippered the French side when they were beaten by Valencia in 2004. Walter Smith's men go into the UEFA Cup but Hemdani admits that is no consolation for missing out on the chance to battle for the big prize.
He said: "When you lose a final it is always a bad moment but this is just as disappointing. Yes, we could go far in the UEFA Cup but after three games in the Champions League we were in a good situation and our aim was to qualify but we didn't.
"It is a big disappointment that we're playing in the UEFA Cup because you want to play at the highest level you can and the Champions League is the highest. It was a bad night for everyone.
"Now we have no choice but to play in the UEFA Cup and we will try to go as far as possible.
"It will be difficult but we have to look forward and we have to try to learn from our mistakes in the Champions League.
"We will try to do our best. Everybody is disappointed after losing to Lyon. It was a very bad moment for the whole squad, for the staff and we know for the fans as well.
"But you have to try to forget it and look forward now."
Hemdani insists one positive is that Rangers' younger players will have gained valuable experience from the Champions League campaign.
He said: "Of course, the players are here to learn from this. We have many players who are only 22 or 23. They are improving and it is a good thing for the club and for the future to have young players who have played at this level."
Whether Hemdani has a significant role to play in Rangers' future remains to be seen. The midfielder almost left in the summer and was guarded about his future.
He said: "For the moment I am here, nothing changes."
Meanwhile, Jean-Claude Darcheville's straight red card against Lyon he'll miss the next European match.
And the former Bordeaux striker's ban could be extended further after a UEFA disciplinary hearing in early February.
Flying full-back Alan Hutton will also sit out the first leg of the next Euro tie after a booking.
The draw for the UEFA Cup knock-out round will be made in Nyon, Switzerland, next Friday and Rangers will face one of eight second-placed clubs from the group phase.
