Roy Hodgson never imagined Fulham would end up in the Europa final, but that was little consolation after their heartbreaking extra-time defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Diego Forlan's second goal of the game shattered Hodgson's men three minutes from time, ending Fulham's hopes of a trophy on the biggest night in their history.
At some point in the summer, Hodgson will no doubt reflect on a job well done, but right now it is hard to see it.
"I couldn't in my wildest dreams imagine we would get here when we started," Hodgson admitted. "But unfortunately that doesn't help.
"Having been here and acquitted ourselves so well, you feel we could have taken a further step.
"It doesn't matter how much comfort I try to find, it is difficult to find joy or enthusiasm because a great performance has gone unrewarded."
Fulham responded to Forlan's first-half opener with a crisp volley from Simon Davies, but they had no answer to the Uruguayan's second effort, which left the Fulham supporters to debate their manager's future.
