Declan Rice was visibly gutted as West Ham failed to reach the Europa League final on Thursday night.
The Hammers' European dream faded and died after the red mist descended during an acrimonious 1-0 defeat away to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Full-back Aaron Cresswell was sent off in the first half to leave the Hammers facing an uphill battle, and manager David Moyes was also ordered from the touchline late on after angrily kicking a ball back towards a ball kid.
A 3-1 aggregate defeat put paid to West Ham's chance of a place in the Champions League – the prize for the winners of the trophy – next season, and as a consequence puts the future of captain and prized asset Rice, who continues to snub a new contract, in doubt.
Rice said he was proud of everyone connected with the club following their defeat.
He told BT Sport: “We’re gutted in there. We’ve come so far as a group and given everything this year. We’re not the biggest of squads, to keep playing week-in week-out after 50 games.
“Proud as well, to go down to 10 men and put in that shift. Many teams would lose three or four, but we showed what West Ham is about. We fight to the end. I’m gutted, but also proud of everyone.
“We’ve come so far, nobody expected West Ham to be here. Nobody expected us to get past Sevilla and Lyon, but we had genuine belief that we could do it. The boys went out on a high even though we lost. We’ll be back and this club deserves more.”
He also posted the following message on Twitter: "We win together. We lose together. So proud of this team, it wasn’t meant to be but that’s football, always a learning experience that in the end will work out right. Thank you to our fans who have been incredible during this journey. We go again Sunday."
But some Irish fans couldn't resist a laugh at both Rice and Jack Grealish - who also suffered European heartbreak with Manchester City this week - after Thursday's match in Germany.
One tweeted: "The Irish cursed Declan Rice and Jack Grealish."
Another said: "Declan Rice and Jack Grealish have failed to win any silverware since they switched their allegiance from Ireland to England. You genuinely love to see it."
Someone else commented: "I'm heartbroken for Jack Grealish and Declan Rice…both missing out on European Finals…..NOT….!!!"
One other supporter tagged both Rice and Grealish in a tweet that read: "Sad to see Ireland under age players knocked out of Europe."
Rice played in three friendlies for the Boys in Green before switching allegiance to England, while Grealish represented Ireland at U17, U18 and U21 levels before declaring for his country of birth.
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