AJAX were never likely to roll out the welcome mat for Rangers.
But Ryan Jack was still left shellshocked after the rampant Dutch giants rattled in four against them.
Gio van Bronckhorst’s men suffered a hellish Champions League return in Amsterdam.
Coming after Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Celtic, it was another crushing blow.
Jack admits confidence has been hit as they try to stave off a full-blown crisis, but urged them to move on quickly ahead of Saturday’s visit to Aberdeen.
He said: “This is the top level, the highest level.
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“The manager told us if we are going to compete at this level then that’s a welcome for us.
“Ajax are one of the best teams I have played against and watched, so we need to learn quickly.
“There is no time to dwell and feel sorry for ourselves. It’s been tough, no doubt about it.
“But what I will say is the fight and determination, all of that will be needed this weekend.
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“Having two 4-0 defeats on the bounce does affect you, individually and collectively.
“But that’s for us in the changing room to stick together — and along with the staff, we will fight our way through it.
“It’s important that we come out on Saturday and do that.
“The games are coming thick and fast and we don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves.
“We need to stick together. We are disappointed and we should be.
“All we can do now is pick ourselves up as we have a massive game coming up against Aberdeen on Saturday
“We know how tough a venue that is and after two defeats, it’s important we learn and put it right this weekend.”
Gers were 3-0 down when Jack came on as a half-time sub and he then made a mistake as Steven Bergwijn rolled in a fourth.
It was the worst possible start to Group A, with arguably tougher tests to come against Liverpool and Napoli.
Jack said: “The message at half-time was to stick together, try to keep a clean sheet and pose more of a threat in their box and goal.
“I gave the fourth goal away with a blind pass and I take responsbility for that.
“But I will be working as hard as I can to make sure I am ready to go come the weekend.
“We have let a lot of people down and we need to apologise to the fans who have sacrificed to make this trip and back us.
“All we can do is apologise and make sure we are ready to get the win on Saturday.”
Calvin Bassey cruised through the game for Ajax weeks after his £23million move from Ibrox.
The Nigeria defender admits it was weird to go up against his old team-mates and pledged to give them 24 hours to get over the defeat.
He said: “I am buzzing but it’s a weird feeling. When I’m not playing against the boys, I wish them all the best.
“I am always rooting for them to win but being on the pitch against them, you need to switch that focus and give 100 per cent. I am just happy top get the win.
“I don’t think I will message them straight after the game, I will give them a day.
“I wouldn’t say it was easy for us. We just executed what the manager wanted from us at the right times.
“There is still work to be done for us to get better but we are pleased with the performance and now we are getting there.”
Former Rangers boss Ally McCoist branded the defeat as concerning and was stunned at the lack of reaction following the derby thumping.
McCoist groaned: “We thought Saturday at Celtic Park was a bad day at the office — but that was equally as bad.
“It was really concerning and maybe even more so than the weekend. A lot of Rangers fans were looking for a reaction and they didn’t get it.
“The last two performances haven’t been good and the players will certainly have questions against them, as will the manager.
“The thing that concerned me more than anything was the lack of effort to run about.
“Technically, Ajax looked a lot better but I’d be very surprised if their running stats weren’t better too.
“The first half was really poor. There was no spirit, it didn’t look like there was any fight.
“There was certainly a lack of belief, if any belief at all.
“Two of the first three goals defensively were horrendous. Where do you start? There were no positives at all and the first was a continuation of the weekend.
“For the first goal, James Sands has got to attack the ball. He’s got to
“Edson Alvarez walks on to him and then off him to get a free header.
“But I keep saying, when you lose Leon Balogun, Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo in the summer, then you lose three good players.
“You also lose a physicality in your team and a defensive strength at set-plays.
“Right now, there is one player who looks capable of winning a defensive header and that’s Connor Goldson — and he’s not been great at it.
“In the modern game, particularly at set-plays . . . that’s not good enough.”
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