Celtic's Gary Caldwell says his team simply were not good enough after they were dumped out of Europe by Aalborg.
"We can't say we were unlucky - that's too easy. We have to look at ourselves," said Caldwell.
"Ultimately, we weren't good enough to hold on to the lead or even get the goal that would have killed the game.
"The deflected equaliser changed the game, but we should still be good enough to keep it at 1-1 and still be in Europe and we couldn't do it."
Celtic were in control for most of the Champions League group E match in Denmark, and took the lead through Barry Robson's second-half header.
However, the Scottish champions were eventually beaten 2-1, a result which meant they crashed out of Europe.
Caldwell was credited with the goal that consigned his side to defeat, after Glenn Loovens' clearance cannoned off him in to his own net.
"It's a massive disappointment to have been in the position we were in and then throw it all away," said the stand-in midfielder.
"You can't keep saying it was bad luck, though.
"We were probably the better team on the night but unfortunately in football, if you make mistakes it can cost you.
"I felt that if anyone was going to score again it was going to be us.
"We wanted to be in the last 16 of the Champions League or at least still be in Europe but we are not."
Defender Mark Wilson described the defeat to the Danes as "probably the lowest point of my career."
"We're absolutely stunned. I can't get my head around how we lost that game," said Wilson.
Gordon Strachan's men were left rueing missed chances and slack defending as Aalborg came from behind to snatch a Uefa Cup spot from Celtic's grasp.
"When we scored it looked like we could have gone on and increased our lead," Wilson added.
"We weren't under any pressure, so to lose two goals was hard to take.
"Maybe we should have been strong enough to see the game out - but that might be over-critical.
The result further adds to Celtic's poor record away from home in the Champions League, with only one point earned from a possible 54.
Midfielder Robson, however, believes that elusive away victory will come, and but was adamant his side lacked fortune.
"When you lose a goal to a deflection and ricochet, you think 'the gods are not looking down on us tonight,'" said Robson.
"I felt we were really unlucky, and we should have had a stonewall penalty when Scott McDonald was brought down in the box by their goalkeeper.
"We played well, and at 1-0 we were cruising the game, and I felt we were comfortable."
"But, we have strong characters in that dressing room and we'll keep going - and get that away win eventually."
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