Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster insists he could not have asked for any more from his players after seeing their Champions League dreams sunk by Roma.
Roma became the first team in over two years to win a European tie at the Bernabeu with a 2-1 defeat of 10-man Real on Wednesday to progress through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League 4-2 on aggregate.
Real, who lost centre-back Pepe to a red card in the 71st minute, had high hopes of being crowned European champions for the 10th time this season, but in the aftermath of seeing that quest ended, Schuster had nothing but praise for his side.
"This has been a very similar story to one in the first leg - Madrid have made effort," Schuster said.
"We worked well and had chances against a very well-organised team.
"It cannot be denied that the team have looked for ways to score, but we had some moments in the game where the luck was not with us and we have not obtained the result we hoped for.
"The players have given everything, I cannot say any more, only to congratulate them."
The result means Real have now lost five of their last seven competitive games and overall they have lost half of their 14 matches in 2008, exiting both Europe and the Copa del Rey.
However, Schuster insists some of his side's results have not matched their performances over the last few months.
He also felt that Real were in control against Roma until a frantic nine-minute spell midway through the second half when the Spanish champions saw Michel Salgado depart injured, lost Pepe to a red card and conceded the opening goal to Rodrigo Taddei.
"For me this not a defeat, although we have not qualified," the German said.
"In the game against Mallorca we deserved to win 7-1. In this match, until we went 1-0 down, the game was more ours, and gave the feeling that we would score the first goal, but we have not found it.
"We were better until the key moment - the sending off of Pepe and the injury to Salgado, which has caused us a lot of damage.
"The reaction of the team (to going a man down) was spectacular. Until they went 1-0 up Roma only had one chance.
"I have to point out this team's character because they never gave up despite being a man down and they always believed they could win."
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