Pablo Fornals and his West Ham United teammates were hurting after Thursday’s UEFA Europa League semi-final exit to Eintracht Frankfurt.
But, as Fornals reflected on the efforts expended during that unforgettable run from Zagreb to Germany, he was also able to speak of his pride of sharing the pitch with his Claret & Blue colleagues.
The team gave their all in defeat in Frankfurt, fighting for over 70 minutes with ten men after Aaron Cresswell was sent off, but they remained in the contest – even after Rafael Borré extended the hosts’ aggregate lead to 3-1.
Ultimately their attempts to find a route back into the contest would be thwarted as Frankfurt progressed to the final, but Fornals felt the Irons could hold their heads high.
“I think as a player, being in this team, I am really proud to play with these guys,” he explained. “We were 1-0 down for a lot of time in this game, but we had chances and tried until the end.
“We were still competing and giving 100 per cent for the whole game. It’s not what we wanted at all, of course, but if I have to lose, I prefer to lose fighting like we did.”
Having had such a good taste of European action this season, Fornals is determined to experience a continental campaign again next term – and for that to happen, he knows the Hammers need to pick themselves up swiftly with three Premier League games still to play.
“Now we have to give our best in the last games in the Premier League to be in Europe again. We want to play in Europe again,” he continued.
“We play for us, but also to make the fans proud and I think they should be today.”