Stephen Kenny applauds the Derry fans after Thursday's game

"We can go to Paris and at least draw," said Kenny after Thursday's encounter at the Brandywell.

"We can step it up again. We won away in Gothenburg and we won away in Scotland 5-1.

"It was a reasonable performance but we are better than we showed tonight. Going to Paris will suit us."

Interview: Derry City manager Stephen Kenny

Kenny acknowledged that he was "a bit disappointed" with his side's display.

"There's more in us. We defended brilliantly and our team centre-halves (Darren Kelly and Ken Oman) were absolutely outstanding.

It is an incredible atmosphere. It's like that for league games Derry City boss Stephen Kenny

"We created one or two chances but they surprised us by being very direct which is not normally the way they play.

"They caused us a few problems but once the game became a little more open, it suited us more. We got at them but we just couldn't create enough."

Kenny felt his team should have earned a second half spot-kick when Kevin McHugh appeared to be fouled by Sylvain Armand although the Derry boss didn't make a major issue of the penalty shout after the game.

Instead, he preferred to concentrate on the marvellous atmosphere generated by the 3,000 fans in the ground.

"It is an incredible atmosphere. It's like that for league games. It's a great place to be at the moment."

Killian Brennan came closest to scoring for Derry when he hit the woodwork in the first half.

I hit the crossbar in Sweden as well so I'm not having the best of luck Derry's Killian Brennan

Kenny revealed that he had originally decided to leave Brennan out of his starting line-up only to change his mind after seeing the midfielder's form in training earlier this week.

Brennan himself, lamented another near-miss after also hitting the woodwork in the away leg in Gothenburg.

"I threw my left leg at it. I hit the crossbar in Sweden as well so I'm not having the best of luck. Hopefully, I'll get one over in Paris.

Match photos: Derry City v PSG

"We had two or three good chances and we could have nicked it and they had a couple of chances.

"They are a strong team and they have bigger and stronger players than us but we acquitted ourselves well."

Interested spectator Martin O'Neill, meanwhile, could not praise the efforts of Derry highly enough.

The Derry-born Aston Villa manager was a surprise guest and was delighted to see an Irish side holding their own against top-class European opposition.

"Derry were great tonight, totally committed, and it's amazing to see that from an Irish side in Europe," said O'Neill.

"Stephen Kenny should be very proud of what he has achieved here already, and the way they are going there are going to be plenty more nights like these here."