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Pride and regret for Reus, Hummels, Mkhitaryan

The message from the Borussia Dortmund dressing room was of pride in showing that "the impossible can be possible" but with thoughts of what might have been.

Marco Reus looks dejected at full time as his Dortmund team-mate applaud their support
Marco Reus looks dejected at full time as his Dortmund team-mate applaud their support ©Getty Images

Marco Reus's first-half double for Borussia Dortmund was not quite enough to overturn the 3-0 quarter-final first-leg defeat by Real Madrid CF, but the winger was full of praise for his side's courageous attacking display. He and Mats Hummels spoke of pride tinged with regret at failing to take a host of other chances, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan admitting he ought to have done better once or twice.

Marco Reus, Dortmund forward
We didn't play well in the first leg and that's why we were chasing the tie. We did everything we could right from the start and played with real courage going forward. Unfortunately we just lacked that little bit of luck, but we came mighty close to surprising everyone.

We could easily have scored the goals to take us through, both tonight and last week. That makes it all the more difficult to swallow that we're out. After reaching the final last season we definitely wanted to get further than the quarters.

Mats Hummels, Dortmund defender
I think we surprised a few of you with the way we played tonight. We had enough chances to turn the game in the second half, but we couldn't make the most of them.

We knew that we lost the first game 3-0 because of our own errors, not because Real were that good. Tonight we capitalised on their errors to score the two goals and defensively we were superb. The lads won so many balls, it was really impressive.

It wasn't a frustrating victory. It was a fantastic match and a wonderful atmosphere. The fans really contributed to the occasion.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Dortmund midfielder
We started the game really well and scored two goals in the first half. We had a lot of chances in the second half as well but we were unlucky. I think we played really well, though, and we would have deserved a place in the semi-finals.

We showed that the impossible can be possible but unfortunately we weren't able to see it through. We just lacked that extra 5% or so. If we'd got the third goal that would have taken it to extra time, but we were just lacking as a team and I personally should have done better with one or two chances.

Kevin Grosskreutz, Dortmund midfielder
We're more disappointed than frustrated. I think we have to be proud as a team to have put in such a good performance considering we were 3-0 down from the first leg in Madrid. We can be proud of our fans too. It'll take a while to process, but as I said, I think we can be really proud of our club tonight.

When we scored the opener that helped but we believed we could turn the game even before that. It was a sensational performance from the lads. I had a good chance which I should have buried, but it happens in football.

Erik Durm, Dortmund defender
[Jürgen Klopp] said at half-time that he was proud of us but that one good half wasn't enough. We had to keep it up, which I think we did quite well. We only needed one goal and we pressed hard. We tried everything but in the end it wasn't enough.

It was tough coming into the game on the back of a 3-0 first-leg defeat but we believed in ourselves and I think Madrid probably underestimated how well we'd play. We did really well, though, and the fans got right behind us.

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