Damien Duff was defiant figure after Shelbourne’s Conference League hopes all but ended following a 3-0 defeat away to Swiss giants Zurich.
The Reds endured the worst possible start and fell behind inside just 30 seconds when Matthew Ifeanyi opened the scoring.
While Duff’s settled soon after falling behind, Zurich doubled their advantage on the half hour mark through Antonio Marchesano.
And Marchesano bagged his brace in the 58th minute to all but seal Zurich’s place in the third qualifying round ahead of next week’s second-leg at a sold-out Tolka Park.
“It’s obviously a very disappointing result,” Duff told Shels TV. “People will ask me if the tie is dead. We're only dead when we're six feet under, so we're always alive.
“But it’s a really difficult scoreline to take back to Tolka Park…
“As I said to the guys, as mad as it sounds, we've lost 3-0 to a brilliant team.. I love nights like this. What do I mean by that? I might think I'm a half decent manager or half decent coach. I promise I don't.
“But if I was to think that, it was sobering. I can be better. The staff can be better. The players might think, ‘I'm big, I'm strong, I'm quick and I'm technical’. Well, we saw levels tonight, so when we're all back home, I can't disrespect how I work.
“The players can't disrespect a gym session, a speed session or a technical session with the ball. So that's what I mean by I love nights like this.
“It shows us that we can do better but I couldn't be any prouder of the guys. There's nothing for them to be disappointed about. We'll have a good crack next Thursday.”
With Shels likely to bow out of Europe next week, they return to league action on Monday week with a crunch title showdown with closest rivals Derry City.
And while Duff would like to claim a scalp against Zurich in Drumcondra, he knows the league is where it’s at for unlikely title challengers.
“Regardless of the result, I said it to the players last week, the number one thing for me is the league.
“We haven't been in this position in 18 years. Europe is magic as if the FAI Cup. The romance of the domestic cup is just special.
“Next Thursday is great as well but I can’t wait for the league.”
FC Zurich: Yanick Brecher; Mariano Gomez, Nikola Katic, Mirlind Kryeziu, Silvan Wallner; Ifeanyi Onyedika, Cheick Conde, Antonio Marchesano (Armstrong Oko-Flex 71), Bledian Krasniqi (Mounir Chouiar 59), Juan José Perea (Bi Irie Fernand Couré 71), Emmanuel Umeh;
Subs not used: Živko Kostadinović, Lindrit Kamberi, Selmin Hodza, Daniel Afriyie, Cheveyo Tsawa, Joseph Sabobo Banda, Labinot Bajrami, Jonathan Okita, Calixte Paul Ligue.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Tyreke Wilson (Sean Boyd 46), Shane Griffin, Kameron Ledwidge, Sam Bone; Patrick Barrett, Jonathan Lunney, Mark Coyle (Evan Caffrey 60), William Jarvis, Harry Wood (Alistair Coote 64), John O'Sullivan;
Subs not used: Lorcan Healy, Liam Burt, John Martin, Dan Ring, Matthew Smith, Rayhaan Tulloch, Ali Topcu.
