David Jeffrey was not suprised by the outcome at Windsor Park

Linfield manager David Jeffrey believes the 2-0 first-leg defeat by Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League has ended hopes of progressing.

"If we're honest it was probably over the day the draw was made," he said.

"When you see the quality they have, the players they have and what they've achieved, we knew it was going to be desperately difficult.

"I'm not trying to be apologetic but we're just back, we've players missing and the build-up was difficult."

Goals from Mario Mandzuki and Dino Drpic gave the Croats a deserved victory at Windsor Park.

However, Jeffrey has taken positives from the Linfield performance.

"The players worked their socks off," he added.

"It was about grit and determination and making sure we were not turned over - we did that."