Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas admitted he was disappointed to see his side bow out of the Europa League in a penalty shootout.
Spurs drew 2-2 with FC Basel in Switzerland on Thursday night to force extra-time after the two legs ended 4-4 on aggregate and level on away goals.
Tottenham fought with ten men for the 30 minutes of extra-time after defender Jan Vertonghen was sent off but eventually fell over in the shootout, allowing Basel to reach the semi-finals.
Despite the exit, Villas-Boas felt that his Spurs side performed to a standard that has English people again aware of Europe's second tier club competition.
"We are disappointed not to go through because we had high ambitions for the competition," he said.
"My first thoughts are for the players because they set for the country a great, great example.
"The way they have played in the Europa League this season, the way they have approached it, the way they played every Thursday and every Sunday, the commitment that they made to the competition showed the country that it was possible to approach it in a different way.
"To have come from Tottenham that example is something that I will always cherish. I think the players will too because of the change of approach.
"We made the country feel different towards the competition."
