Steve McClaren admitted Middlesbrough's luck finally ran out in the UEFA Cup final at the Philips Stadion last night.
Boro staged two epic fightbacks from three goals down to make it to the final in Eindhoven. But they were torn apart by Sevilla, who scored three times in the last 12 minutes to win 4-0.
McClaren said: 'I don't know if the occasion got to our players. We looked nervous. There was no freedom and we didn't perform as we can.We had three goalscoring chances for an equaliser and a stone-wall penalty. It could have changed the game but, as it was, our luck ran out.'
Middlesbrough wanted a penalty when Javi Navarro barged into the back of Mark Viduka, two minutes before Sevilla's second, but their appeals were ignored.
Boro went behind midway through the first half to a header from Luis Fabiano. Enzo Maresca added two more and former Spurs striker Frederic Kanoute grabbed the fourth in the dying minutes.
McClaren, who will become England manager after the World Cup, said: 'It's the finale of my Middlesbrough career. It ends on a bad night but I will reflect on it. I have left them in good condition and go on.
'I have enjoyed my five years and am sad to go, but people move on in football. I will go with my head held high.'
McClaren added: 'The dressing room is very down but they should all be proud of what they have achieved. After all, this is just a small town in Europe and we've proved we can live with the best. Unfortunately, we've fallen at the last hurdle.
'This is the club's reward, getting to a final, but it doesn't stop there and that is what I've told the players. I've said this is just the beginning. It is a stepping stone, a platform to achieve more.'
The former Manchester United coach added: 'They have the backing of a tremendous chairman, the resources and the talent coming through to compete at this level. The club must take it forward. They must not let this be the end. It must be a new beginning.'
