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Gareth Fullerton

Seven emotive David Healy quotes from RFS post-match press conference

Linfield boss David Healy did well to contain his emotions as he fronted up to the press just moments after his side's crushing Europa Conference League play-off defeat.

Seconds away from victory in extra-time, the Blues conceded a last-minute equaliser through Jimmy Callacher's freak own goal to send the game into a penalty shootout.

Latvia visitors RFS, with their tails up, went on to win 4-2 in the shootout and book their place in the group stages.

Read more: Irish League unites in tribute to 'Mr Ballymena United'

For Healy, it was time for a demoralising post mortem as his side missed out on a piece of history.

Healy conducted a brief live television interview before attending his normal post-match press conference in Windsor Park's media theatre.

And for over 11 minutes he answered questions about his side's performance on the night, and their devastating shootout defeat.

Here are some of the best quotes from the Blues boss...

Healy's top 7 quotes

"I think it's too soon to unpack that. It is raw in terms of the timing after the game. I did the press yesterday and spoke of how proud and privileged I am to manager this great football club that means so much to a lot of people. It means a great deal to me. I am proud of the performance. I thought we were excellent tonight. I thought some of our play tonight was exceptional. And how we approached the game, tactically we got it spot on."

Healy's pride of Linfield's display at Windsor

"It is no crime for a player to miss a penalty. I think the crime we committed tonight was probably the 119th or 120th minute of the match when we are flooding forward to score a second. I have been a player and I understand the opportunities there. But we either have to keep the ball, score or kick it into the 20th row of the empty Railway Stand. And that's not me picking on the players breaking. There was a hunger, and they felt there was an opportunity, but we didn't manage to score and RFS got the ball and we end up conceding a poor goal. Again, it is not a crime to concede the goal in the manner we did, because nobody means to do that. I thought Jimmy was exceptional when he came on."

On that crazy 60 seconds that led to RFS' equaliser

"After the game, it is gut-wrenching. You can bring up all the sombre words you want. I don't think I can find the right words to try and sum up how proud I was of the players, and the extreme disappointment I feel for them. It is a tough, tough night. But I will always front up and we will go again. It was an incredible opportunity for us tonight, and one that ultimately in the end got away from us."

Healy lost for words to describe sense of disappointment

"For now I can't. I don't think I have ever been as disappointed, certainly in my managerial career. As a player I lost a couple of play-off finals after a long season. After committing to 46 games in the Championship and you lose, it is hard. You have a whole summer to reflect on it. How do I respond? I can't even put into words how I can respond, personally. I will, as I always do. And I will make sure the players do, as they always do. We will get a response, but it will be a huge ask on Sunday (against Carrick Rangers). As a group of staff I don't think I can pick myself up off the floor tonight."

On how he will lift himself after this defeat

"I will watch the game again, probably a couple of times between tonight and tomorrow. And I will probably beat myself up even more. And then I will get a litre of pineappleade and will be ready to go again. Gut-wrenching tonight. I feel for the staff, players, supporters and everyone associated with the football club. We wanted to be in the group stages, and we could have been and should have been tonight."

Pineappleade cure for Healy

"Jimmy is absolutely shattered. They all are. Jimmy has been an exceptional player for me and Linfield since he has been here. He is down, absolutely. You are talking about picking each other up. There is no point 20 minutes after the game. You let it sink in and summarise in your head what you want to say. You don't always say the right things after the game. Sometimes I come here and say right and wrong things."

On Jimmy Callacher's own goal and lifting the players

"I still had hope for the penalty shootout. They are 50-50 calls at times. So you have that chance. I knew the players would be feeling a bit gutted after what had happened. If RFS had of equalised with seven or eight minutes to go, then the players would have had time to refocus. But when it happens so close to the penalty shootout, then of course there will be some emotion there. We missed the penalties, we lost and went out. And we have to accept it and move on."

On his players' mood going into penalty shootout

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