Raphael Onyedika and Club Brugge were left disappointed not to reach the UEFA Europa Conference League Final after they were outscored by Fiorentina.
The Belgian club fell 4-3 on aggregate at home courtesy of a late penalty winner for the Italians.
Captain Hans Vanaken summed up the mood in the dressing room after the loss.
“I didn’t see any tears, but of course the heads went down and everyone stared into space,” he revealed.
“If you are in the semi-finals you just want to go to the final. If you don’t make it then there is of course disappointment.”
However, the experienced midfielder said they will shift focus to the Belgian Championship playoffs, which they currently top.
“I think we can look back with great pride on our European campaign. And we now have everything to play for in those last three games of the play-offs,” he said.