Hibs head coach David Gray admitted the performance and the result against KF Malisheva were nowhere near the standards expected at the Club.
But believes his side can overturn a two-goal deficit at Easter Road next Thursday.
Hibs fell behind after 21 minutes as Kreshnik Uka poked home in a goalmouth scramble.
The team had chances to equalise after the interval, the best of which saw Nathan Lowe hit the outside of the post and the side netting, which was a decisive moment as substitute Valmir Nafiu grabbed a second in stoppage time to condemn Hibs to defeat in Pristina.
“I think it’s very, very simple to put that into words, and it was way below the requirement and the expectation of this Football Club,” Gray began.
“I know that, and that’s a reflection on myself and my team, and we know we were way below where we needed to be today.
“I’m not going to stand here and make excuses at all. That was obviously nowhere near good enough. The only positive, if there is anything to come out of today, is the fact it’s happened in the first leg and there is still an opportunity to turn this round.
“I do believe we are good enough to do it. From what I’ve seen today, as I said, I could talk about moments and situations in the game, but they’d just be excuses.
“In terms of where we are just now, the disappointment, the frustration, and the fans, who are certainly not going to want to hear this in terms of apologies.
“But for the players and myself, the reflection on what we’ve delivered today, and for the supporters that have spent the money to come and support their team in Europe, we know that’s unacceptable and nowhere near the level required.”
Indeed, the head coach was looking for no excuses and said that the goals we conceded were ‘not good enough’.
He added: “I’m not going to give anyone an out, myself included, and I’m not going to try and justify or make excuses and talk about anything other than the fact that we know, to a man today, we weren’t anywhere near the level required.
“The goals we conceded, I look at because they were not good enough, and we know that. I wasn’t shocked or surprised by anything I’ve seen from the opposition, and it’s what we expected going into the game and everything I spoke about in terms of what to expect from the opposition.
“I’ve seen an aggressive side, a team that does transition quickly, and their second goal was a brilliant example of that, but everything that could have gone wrong today for us certainly did.
“It’s very hard to win games of football when there are so many of us not at the level required, and the only thing I would say, as I’ve just said, is that I still firmly believe in the group.
“I still firmly believe that the positive is that it’s happened in the first leg. The criticism and everything is going to come, and rightly so, but there’s only one person that can try their best to turn it around. It’s my responsibility to make sure the team is right and ready for next week.”
Despite defeat, Gray provided special praise for Hibs fans after more great support, and when speaking about his desire to bounce back, he says we need our fans more than ever in the return leg at Easter Road next week.
He said: “[Their support] was incredible. As you’d expect, they’ll be frustrated, angry, and everything that comes with that, and rightly so.
“There is a responsibility and an expectation when you represent this Football Club. I know that more than anyone.
“I’ve been here for 12 years now, and the fans have been incredible. They’ve travelled in numbers with real hope and expectation, and we’ve let them down today, and all we can do is make sure we do everything we possibly can to turn this around, and that starts straight away.”
