Brian Barry-Murphy
“I’m very proud of the players and the effort they put into the performance. It’s the hope that kills you when you score a goal. I felt we were in the ascendancy and had a great chance to grab a winner, but it wasn’t to be.
“The quality of the opponent was evident from the beginning. It obviously increased when Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho came on, so it was a really high level test for us, but the players gave an amazing account of themselves.
“I think it’s just a natural feeling of disappointment and what could’ve been, but we’re playing against a calibre of individual players that are at the highest level. If you don’t concentrate every single second, they can score at any moment.
“I was amazed at the fact that David had only scored one goal for Cardiff City before tonight, but I think as he starts to get his confidence and fitness, it’s clear how much of a threat he can be in the opposition's box.
“It was a brilliant header and a brilliant goal for David, and hopefully it will give him a lot of confidence going forward.
“You get a taste of this type of evening, and the stadium was incredible. The supporters were right behind us, even at 3-1, right to the last minute, and it just leaves you wanting more and fuelling the fire of wanting to repeat it.
“It felt electric. Obviously, we tried to be as aggressive as we could be and really try and force the pace against a high-level team, and the supporters were right behind us all the way.
“When we scored that goal, it was a moment to savour, and it generally felt as if we could push and try and win the game, but we have no regrets. We gave it everything, we tried every single thing we knew, and on tonight’s occasion it just wasn’t enough, but on any other day it may have been.”
"I'm very happy, especially for the effort of the players. I said yesterday that football is full of these tricky games so you have to pay attention and we did a good game.
"Off the ball, we were quite good, on the ball, we struggled a bit to create chances [in the first half] for many reasons. Second half we were much better on the ball.
"It was a big difference between the first half and second half, the way we attacked also. Cardiff were very organised and intense. In the end, we did enough to win the game."
On three semi-finals under his management: "We are going in the right direction. Anything I do is because I want the best for the club, for the fans, for everyone."
Do you feel appreciated? "Tonight, the focus has to be that we reached the semi-final. The support from the fans since day one has always been there.
"I know sometimes when you don't win games, it's normal that they are not happy but no one is happy. Overall, the focus has to be that we won and we're in the semi-final."
