The key talking points from Rangers' 4-0 defeat in the Champions League against Ajax.

Champions League proves brutal playground

Rangers returned to a level they feel is a natural habitat for the first time in 12 years, but this rarefied class of football is as dangerous as it is enticing - and so it proved in Amsterdam. The Ibrox club were never at the races from the start and were given a 90-minute chasing by the classy Dutch giants. Napoli's Stadio Diego Maradona, never mind Anfield, now carries an added air of menace. Lessons must be learned and quickly or fans might be left to wonder if another spell in the Europa League might have been closer to this current team's level.

Calvin Bassey shows what Rangers are missing

The Nigerian international may end up boosting Rangers' coffers to the tune of £25m but the loss of his pace and power on the pitch hasn't half weakened them. He sauntered through the game, defensively untested by the bustling Antonio Colak. At one point he went shoulder to shoulder with the big Croatian targetman and sent him sprawling to the turf. He used the ball well throughout and will almost certainly further develop that aspect of his game in Holland. It's always good for fans to see former Rangers doing well on the big stage but this one was more than bitter than sweet.

READ MORE: Detailed Rangers player ratings as wretched displays lead to Ajax battering

Gio gets the midfield tactics badly wrong

Van Bronckhorst set up his midfield with John Lundstram as the sitter with Glen Kamara and Malik Tillman on either side. It seemed an ambitious structure against a team that moves the ball so quickly through the thirds and so it proved with three goals in the first half. Tillman is a very talented kid but it's important to remember that he has only recently made his tenth senior appearance in men's football. He's powerful with quick feet but he's got a lot to learn about the defensive side of the game and doing the dirty work. His laconic style doesn't help on that front and it was infuriating to see a lack of intensity in the engine room for the second game in a row.

Tav off the boil

The captain picked up a knock ahead of the Celtic game and looked very much below his usual standard in that one. It was the same tonight and he was ruthlessly exposed for the third goal when he lost out on a fifty-fifty with Mohammed Kudus. The Ghanaian then turned on the afterburners leaving the Englishman for dead before dispatching an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Having looked uncomfortable throughout, there was little surprise when the captain was replaced by Leon King at half-time. He was later pictured sitting on the sidelines with a large ice pack ominously strapped to his calf. 

Jon McLaughlin shows mental strength

He was awful at Celtic Park and while he lost three goals in the first half once again, none were the fault of the keeper. He made several solid stops and was the one player who you would give pass marks to. While the scoreline was painful, it could have been a lot worse and McLaughlin at least answered questions about his ability to bounce back from adversity. The less said about the defence in front of him and their inability to pick up players at set-pieces the better.