"Today, there's no reason to value this defeat too much. We have not qualified for the next round, but I do not consider this as a defeat, just like the game against Mallorca," reasoned Schuster.

"The ball did not want to go in.

"The game was ours for the taking."

Asked if it was a failure to not reach the Champions League quarterfinals after investing £70 million in the squad in the last 12 months, Schuster replied: "I am not the one in charge to answer this question."

To a question about how he felt after seeing his Real team eliminated from the Champions League and Copa del Rey, Schuster added: "Very well thanks."

Roma goals from Rodrigo Taddei and Mirko Vucinic sandwiched Raul's equaliser and on the performance, Schuster said: "We showed aggression. For that reason I congratulate the team. The reaction was spectacular. We have great character and we never let ourselves down.

"I never saw Roma dominating Madrid. Neither there (in Rome) nor here.

"But the Italian team is masterful."