Walter Smith refused to consider last night's defeat to Zenit St Petersburg as the end of an adventure and instead heralded a new beginning for his Rangers team.

As Dick Advocaat celebrated a triumph inspired by the sublime talent of Andrei Arshavin, Smith expressed his envy at the array of artistry at the Dutchman's disposal. Summer renovation work will revolve around improving Rangers' creativity with an affordable alternative to the awesome Russian internationalist who was presented with an impressive man of the match award.

Smith spoke proudly of the defiant achievements of a team cobbled together at a cost of £12m. The days of extravagant spending are over, but the Rangers manager will endeavour to infuse skill with the abundant will.

"This is the end of the beginning if you consider this is the squad's first season together," said Smith. "It has been an invaluable experience for players who have not been exposed to this before.

"I think when you look at the player who has just been man of the match, we have missed that something different. We have a team that works extremely hard and it has taken them a long way. In some games, though, we have lacked someone with that bit of creativity."

The search for inspiration will be a summer priority, along with a striker with a greater depth of attributes than those on his current roster.

His scouting staff are on the case and the financial boon of a long European campaign will afford the manager greater latitude.

"We obviously have people in place looking on our behalf, but it has been difficult for the coaching staff to look because we have had no time," said Smith. "You can see the difference Arshavin makes and we would like a player of that type to provide some creativity. We have had that kind of player before and he frustrated us at times tonight."

Rangers have no time to lament last night's defeat. They return to Glasgow today and immediately divert their focus to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League campaign. Rangers have three games in the next seven days to win the title.

"The dressing room was quiet," Smith said. "That is understandable, but we have to make sure we come back from this straight away. It is going to be a huge test to lift the players after the disappointment of losing a European final, but the importance of the situation ahead will help us a great deal.

"The SPL fixtures issue did not have an effect on the game. We would like to have cleared our heads with a bit more time, but we were ready to play. We now have four games to win two trophies and we hope we can overcome the disappointment of tonight's game and not let it affect us."

He added: "The over-riding emotion is disappointment, but what we have achieved is fantastic. It will stand the players in good stead for the future and, in terms of us still trying to build a team, it has been pleasing to see the reaction to the challenges they have faced. I'm sure they will continue to grow. I can't speak highly enough of them.

"I don't think anyone would have thought this season would lead us to a European final. You have to give them credit for what they have achieved. It is a testament to the way they have handled themselves and it is always disappointing when it ends."

Smith felt Zenit's opener, scored by Igor Denisov, came just as Rangers seemed to have weathered the storm. In attempting to retrieve the situation - committing Nacho Novo, Lee McCulloch and Kris Boyd to the attack - Rangers were caught by a clinical counter-attack.

"I felt in the first half Zenit were the better side. We came into it after the break, but lost a goal at a bad time," he said. "Just when we were coming into the game, it changed the complexion. It would have been better if Zenit scored early to give us longer to try to get the equaliser."

Both teams were denied a handball penalty claim and Smith believed Rangers' to be legitimate. He said: "I thought it looked like a penalty - sometimes you get them and sometimes you don't.

He added: "Dick is a terrific coach and has shown that everywhere he has gone. The way he handled the final says a lot for him and I think we are witnessing not just the emergence of Zenit as a real force but Russian football in general.

"We have played some good sides this season: Barcelona are excellent, individually and as a team, but Zenit are on a par with Lyon, Stuttgart and Werder Bremen, who were excellent in Scotland. They are of that level."