Ianis Hagi bemoans penalty verdict but admits Rangers were second best in Bilbao

Ianis Hagi spoke of the “big detail” that he believes proved so costly for Rangers in their 2-0 Europa League defeat by Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.

Following a goalless first leg of the quarter-final tie at Ibrox last week, Barry Ferguson’s men battled hard to contain the side fourth in La Liga but in first-half added time, John Souttar fouled Maroan Sannadi and Oihan Sancet converted the penalty.

Gers midfielder Nicolas Raskin hit a post early in the second half before a header from Spain winger Nico Williams with 10 minutes remaining sent the side from the Basque country into the last four, where they will play Manchester United.

However, Hagi and boss Barry Ferguson left the San Mames stadium believing Rangers should have been awarded a penalty at 0-0 when Gers striker Cyriel Dessers had his shirt pulled and ripped in the penalty box by Yeray Alvarez.

Midfielder Hagi, who was replaced at half-time by defender Clinton Nsiala, said: “Disappointing obviously. I think they played better than us, I have to admit that, but obviously minute 15 away from home, you have a clear penalty.

“I think that helps us, puts us in an advantage in the tie to go through.

“Does that mean that we will we win the game? No.

“But it’s disappointing and then they just started playing so much better and I think they deserved the win in the end.

“But at this level, small details make the difference and that was that was a big detail.

“You are obviously disappointed, anger probably because we could have played better.

“I think Bilbao for 90 minutes were better than us, but that doesn’t take away the incident of the penalty, right?

“And disappointed a little bit because we could have given ourselves a good chance to protect the result but as I said, that doesn’t mean that we would have won the tie and we would have went to the semis.

“And obviously anger because it was a good chance to win a trophy and we didn’t manage to do that, so…”

Rangers’ domestic inconsistency this season means they have next to no chance of winning the William Hill Premiership title – they are 15 points behind leaders Celtic with 15 to play for – and are out of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.

Asked how difficult it will be to play the final five league fixtures of a poor domestic campaign, the Romania international said: “For our pride, for the pride to represent the club as best as possible.

“We won’t hide the way we underachieved this season, that is the reality.

“But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have to show up for the last five games and go out there and win them.”