Facing the reigning Champions League holders, the Londoners were widely expected to be stunned, yet they showed resilience and creativity for large portions of the match.
Speaking after the game, he expressed satisfaction with his side’s performance but was frustrated to concede goals that cost them a better result.
“Yeah, definitely. I'm pleased with the performance. It was the reaction I wanted from the players, from the team,” he told the media.
“We've been working very hard on that - the players, the staff, me, to make sure that we responded well and bounced back because that's crucial after a bad performance. Today, I saw more identity of the team I want to create, we want to create.
“Much more character, personality, aggressiveness. Three words you need to have in any team, no matter how you want to do, how you want to play, whatever formation, whatever. Today we saw it, that I'm pleased with.
“Of course, I think it was performance that was up there where we could get something out of the game, a draw or a win, so that's a little frustrating thing that we conceded some goals. Of course, one with a little bit of margin from Vitinha, not top corner but top top corner, but goals three and four, those are the ones we definitely need to avoid if we want to get something out of here.
“But something to build on - strikers scoring two goals, the whole team, I think, all performed well. Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, positive. We played against a decent team where they have one Ballon d'Or winner and I think the next one is playing in midfield, Vitinha - wow, what a player.”