Captain John McGinn spoke of his disappointment after Aston Villa’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley.
Eberechi Eze’s first-time 20-yard strike opened the scoring for the Eagles and separated the two sides at the break.
McGinn was denied by goalkeeper Dean Henderson as Villa started the second half on the front foot, with Jean-Philippe Mateta sending a penalty against the outside of a post.
Yet Ismaila Sarr doubled Palace’s advantage with a low drive from distance, before adding a third for the south London side in injury time to inflict a 3-0 defeat.
It ensured Villa’s search for FA Cup glory came to an agonising end, with full focus now on claiming a top-five finish in the Premier League.
But, amid the pain of the setback, McGinn also believes Villa must use the frustration to fuel their ambitions and respond positively.
“There’s obviously massive disappointment,” said McGinn post-match.
“The manager spoke at length in there to remind ourselves how far we’ve come as a team, as a group.
“It’s not to get away from the disappointment.
“What was at stake here was huge for both clubs.
“For us, we’re craving success and a trophy, the club’s not experienced it for a long time.
“But the manager doesn’t have to rant and rave, us as players don’t need to rant and rave.
“We know it was a huge disappointment and we need to use the hurt to come back stronger next season.
“Hopefully, get the supporters another trip to Wembley, but the overriding feeling is of hurt and disappointment.
“We’ve got a really important last four games to try and achieve European football again and get ourselves back to the Champions League.
“We can’t sulk and be disappointed for too long. But, I think for us as players, we’re as disappointed as every supporter leaving the stadium.”
It was the club’s first outing under the arch of the national stadium since 2020 and first FA Cup semi-final for 10 years.
Villa, chasing European football for a third successive season, had won 10 of their previous 12 in all competitions heading into the showpiece occasion, having also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
It comes following significant progress both on and off the pitch since the club’s promotion back to the top flight six years ago.
And, on the back of the semi-final agony, McGinn is keen to remain united and push forward together as one to realise the club’s collective aims for the future.
“We’ve had a lot of praise for the last couple of seasons, deservedly so, at certain stages,” he said.
"Now we'll get criticism, you need to take it on the chin, puff your chest out and try to stay together.
“It’s easy for a day like this to try and disrupt and dismantle what we’re building.
“But we’re building something special. I think everyone within the club, outside the club, can see that.
“When we’ve got the manager and staff we have in place, the owners we’ve got, this club is set up and we’ll be back here.
“Obviously, at the moment, it stings, and I'm sure the Aston Villa fans would have expected to try and get to a final.
“But some days football comes and punches you in the face and today is one of those days.”
