Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler said he was proud of his players after they drew 2-2 with Chelsea in an FA Cup with Budweiser Fourth Round tie at Griffin Park.
The Bees looked like they would beat the current FA Cup and UEFA Champions League holders as they went ahead twice and had the lead going in to the final ten minutes.
Marcello Trotta opened the scoring late in the first half and Harry Forrester restored the lead from the penalty spot after Oscar had equalised.
But Fernando Torres ensured the teams would meet again at Stamford Bridge with a late equaliser.
Uwe said he was very happy but knew his team could have won the match.
He said they would now try and do so at the second time of asking.
“I am so proud of the way my players played, the way they presented themselves individually and collectively,” said Uwe, speaking after the match.
“The way the worked within the game plan, the bravery they have shown to attack, I am so proud.
“I am happy but I also knew we had the chance of a lifetime with five or six minutes to go, leading 2-1, to win the tie.
“I think it will be a great occasion for everyone involved with Brentford Football Club to go to Stamford Bridge.
“And, hopefully, we can give them a game again.
“I think we can make life difficult at Stamford Bridge, and then we will see what happens.
“We need a little a bit of luck.
“We had some today at the end, they could have had a penalty for handball against Harlee Dean.
“Yet, also, we were unlucky.
“When Tom Adeyemi was fouled for our penalty it was a goal scoring opportunity [but goalkeeper Ross Turnbull was not sent off].
“Also, we were leading 2-1 with five minutes to go.
“It will be more difficult than at Griffin Park.”
Uwe said his team were better than their illustrious visitors in the first half and defended well in the second.
He said his players should look back at the great job they did.
“We were definitely the better side in the first half,” he said.
“In the second half the wind made it very difficult for us to come out of our own half.
“But, in general, we defended very well.
“We made one or two mistakes, but nothing major and their second goal was a great goal, you can’t do much about that.
“With five minutes to go I felt we would win the game.
“But, in general, everyone should relax now, look back and think we did a great job.
“The players did a great job and that positive feeling should stay after a game like that.”
Uwe said his plan was to stop Chelsea playing through his team and his players showed that although they may not have been as good individually, they were better as a unit.
“We worked hard on being difficult to play through,” said the Brentford Manager.
“We also wanted to press high up in periods; we did that very well in the first half.
“We forced them in to mistakes.
“In general you can’t match them up and play one v one, they are player for player better than us.
“Collectively we were better than them today.”
Uwe said the goals Chelsea scored showed the difference between the Premier League and npower League One.
He said his players would learn from the small errors they made in the match.
He added he was surprised by how well they coped with the build-up to the tie, additional media commitments and a week in the national spotlight.
“The difference at this level is that you don’t get away with making mistakes,” said Uwe.
“For the first goal we played the ball square in to the middle, deep in our half.
“We should normally go in to the channel, especially under pressure, with the wind against us.
“But, we have young players, they will learn.
“Against top opposition you don’t get away with that.
“For us, as a club that wants to progress, it is a fantastic experience.
“It is a great learning curve.
“There were more distractions.
“It surprised me how well they coped with that.
“I was not surprised by the performance; I know how well they can play.”
Uwe added: “I enjoyed it very much.
“I enjoyed the build-up.
“I enjoyed a sold out Griffin Park, that is an achievement; it is not very often that happens.
“I am happy for the players; they have shown what they can do.
“All credit to them.
“They faced world class players and showed how far you can come by being a good professional and a team player.”
A full video interview with Uwe Rösler is available here for Bees Player subscribers.