Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger insisted that the Blues could hold their heads up high despite their dramatic Champions League exit to Real Madrid.
The reigning European champions were knocked out 5-4 on aggregate following a pulsating tie, which had seen them overturn a 3-1 first leg deficit to take a 4-3 aggregate lead in the Spanish capital.
Goals from Mason Mount, Rudiger himself and Timo Werner looked to have taken Thomas Tuchel's side through to the last four, only for substitute Rodrygo to force the tie into extra-time with a fine finish from Luka Modric's cross, before Karim Benzema - who scored a hat-trick in the first-leg - headed home the winner.
A devastated Rudiger praised the experienced pair for their displays.
"The positive is we didn’t give up," told BT Sport.
"Not many teams can come here and dominate them like we did.
"But over the two legs, if you make the type of mistakes we do, you get punished.
"It was do or die for us. Before the game, not everybody thought we could lead 3-0. But then their individual class came to light, with Modric and Benzema, and now we are here.”
Modric himself claimed that Real were "dead" in the tie before their comeback.
"Unbelievable to describe this game," he said.
"We were dead until the goal we scored. Chelsea scored three goals, maybe the first a bit lucky from a deflection. I can't say we played badly.
"They used their chances well and scored the goals. We didn't give up. We kept believing, fighting and in the end showed huge character.
"This stadium and the fans were very helpful when we were losing 3-0. They kept supporting us and it gave us a boost to keep believing.
"The manager did great changes. They did well. In this competition experience is playing an important role and I think today it helped us a bit. For me, they are the most difficult team to play against. they are a tough, physical team. We knew it would be tough.
"In the end we showed great character, desire and togetherness to manage to turn it around. A defeat that is very sweet."
BBC Sport pundit Karen Carney thinks that Chelsea deserved to go out because of their display in the first leg.
"You can't complain. This leg wasn't the one that sent them out. It was the fist one where you don't bring the best version of yourself," she said on BBC Radio Five Live.
"When you play the top teams you can't afford a 90 minute spell where you are not at your best.
"They have conceded five goals. Last season they were built on defence. You have to have a clean sheet mentality. They leave themselves open on times.
"I am still purring over the Modric pass to be honest. I don't think there is anyone else in world football who can deliver that on the money."
