Michael Beale holds Rangers on-pitch inquest after Celtic defeat as boss wastes no time in addressing stars

Michael Beale held an on-pitch team meeting just moments after the full-time whistle blew on the Viaplay Cup Final.

A Kyogo double downed Rangers at Hampden and despite Alfredo Morelos' strike threatening a famous comeback at the national stadium, the Ibrox side came up short as Celtic retained the trophy. Beale had said before the game that defeat wouldn't be "fatal" with his side in the early phases of a rebuild but that wouldn't have made it any easier to take as they tasted defeat for the first time since Beale's return to the club.

It means Rangers now turn back to league business as they look to eat away at Celtic's nine-point advantage while the Scottish Cup still offers a realistic chance at silverware. And that would have been the message from Beale as he was spotted rallying his players on the pitch with an instant post-match debrief before the dust had settled at Hampden.

Before the players went over to applaud the fans who remained after the whistle, viewers spotted Beale taking the unconventional step of stepping out onto the turf to address his hurting players. They face Kilmarnock next Saturday, looking for another Premiership win to keep their impressive league run going before a double-header with Hibs in the league and Raith Rovers in the cup.

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