David Gray says that his job is to pick the players up after last night’s 3-2 defeat to K.A.A. Gent in the UEFA Conference League Play-Off Round.
In a dramatic 90 minutes, Hibs came from behind to lead 2-1 on the night thanks to second-half goals from Jason Kerr and Felix Passlack.
But the tie swung back in the Belgian side’s favour with two late goals in the closing stages to bring this year’s European journey to an end.
Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Gray shared his disappointment with the result.
“It’s very difficult to put into words right now, and the disappointment that everybody involved in this Football Club will be feeling right now.
“It’s very difficult for the players to be very critical of them for what they’ve delivered, especially in that second half and what they’ve done throughout this whole European campaign to this point.
“We went toe-to-toe against a really good side, came up just short right at the very end there, and it’s two huge moments in both boxes right in the last five minutes of the game that unfortunately settled the tie in a negative way for us.
“Once the dust settles and you reflect on it, there will be positives to take from it, but right now it doesn’t feel that way.”
“At half-time, I spoke to the players about making sure they give absolutely everything between now and the end and have no regrets when you come off, and every player certainly gave me that.
“I thought in the first half we had a couple of good moments, not a big chance to be honest, but at the same time we were a wee bit passive in the first half.
“I thought we dominated the game. The effort, the desire, the will to try and go and win the game was clearly there for everyone to see.
“We got what we deserved in terms of getting in front and the tie, but then as I’ve just said, we’ve been undone at the end. The two huge moments, giving away a poor corner, then failing to defend the corner, and then a huge moment right back up the other end – it’s a big moment when we missed from four or five yards.
“It does feel really tough to take right now. There’ll be anger, there’s everything that goes into all the emotions, but it’s my job to pick the players up as quick as we can.
“Right now it’s very difficult. Clearly we’re all human beings, we’re all suffering, and they’re all really disappointed, but it’s my job and the staff’s job to get around the players and make them bounce back as quickly as we can.”
