PSV Eindhoven boss Guus Hiddink was unsure how he felt after his side beat AC Milan 3-1 but exited the Champions League on away goals. "I am torn between pride and disappointment over this result," said Hiddink, who guided PSV to the 1988 European Cup title.
"But it is not the biggest disappointment of my career.
"My worst experience was as Holland coach when we lost to Brazil in the 1998 World Cup semi-final."
But midfielder Mark van Bommel was struggling to come to terms with the manner of defeat.
Massimo Ambrosini's late strike sent the Italians through on the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate draw and Van Bommel said: "It is disappointing."
He added: "We deserved to win because we were the best team. However they scored an away goal."
Van Bommel, who may now join Barcelona, added: "We had a bit of bad luck."
The Holland midfielder admitted, however, that PSV had played a part in their own downfall.
"It's a pity we didn't go through but unfortunately we allowed them to score their three goals in the dying seconds of three of the four halves of the clash," he said.
Philip Cocu, the midfield partner of Van Bommel, agreed.
"It isn't right," he said. "There was only one team that played to win, and that was us.
"I feel sick. This match took a lot out of us both mentally and physically and it cost us in the end.
"It's football but it is cruel."
MMIX
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