Rangers missed the chance of history and it was no lottery .. instead it was careless – Hugh Keevins

What if Jock Stein, Willie Waddell and Alex Ferguson are legends standing on consecrated ground that’s not meant to be disturbed?

What if Billy McNeill, John Greig and Willer Miller are meant to be a timeless trinity enshrined in the history of our game as the captains who conquered Europe for Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen?

And destiny has decreed there’s no more room on their pedestal.

I have reached a stage in life where I’m not inclined to use the expression: “There’s always next year.”

At the age of 72 I’m more given to hedging my bets on that score and simply hoping for the best.

It’s my mortality and I can poke fun at it if I like.

But I was reminded of the saying “there’s always next year” when the final whistle sounded at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan late on Wednesday night.

Mainly because I don’t believe it to be true.

This time next year will mark the 40th anniversary of Aberdeen’s European Cup Winners’ Cup win over Real Madrid in Gothenburg.

The last time a Scottish club won a European trophy.

Rangers’ penalty shootout failure against Eintracht Frankfurt prompted the thought that Aberdeen’s success in Sweden four decades ago will indeed be the last time a Scottish club claims that distinction.

Ever.

Rangers were a force of nature in this season’s Europe League.

Until it mattered most.

They were a large part of a season filled with things that nobody saw coming.

Like Ange Postecoglou turning base metal into gold at Celtic Park and reclaiming a league title at the end of his first season as manager.

Like St Johnstone going from the most successful, trophy-laden season of their existence to the one where they will this week need to compete with Inverness Caley Thistle for survival in the