Robin Gosens has urged the team to leverage the disappointment of their Conference League semi-final exit to propel them to a strong finish in Serie A – and return to Europe next season.

Speaking after Fiorentina's 4-3 aggregate defeat to Real Betis, the German said: “I'm absolutely gutted for the team and for the fans, who were behind us right till the very end. We desperately wanted to reach this final and we threw everything we had at it. Unfortunately a single moment decided the game. I feel very empty right now because I felt we could do it but sadly we couldn't pull it off.

“We did so well to come from behind and it wasn't easy after conceding the way we did. It could have knocked us down but instead we bounced straight back and turned it around. After that I felt we could go on and do it. At the end of the day it's the small details that matter and that detail didn't go our way today. We conceded a fairly easy goal but at the end fatigue comes into it too. It shouldn't happen but it can when you're lacking energy.

“What we could have done better in the second half was make more runs in behind because we were a long way from goal. We weren't so good at playing beyond their first wave of pressing. We knew they defended very high so the space was there but obviously hitting long balls up from defense doesn't do much. 

“It's difficult now but we need to analyze the match. Regardless of the result, this game has to make us stronger. Now we must try and get nine points in Serie A to get back into Europe because we deserve it. We want that for us and for the fans. We've all seen how great it is to play in Europe, how much you get out of it as a footballer and on a personal level. 

“We have to turn our sadness into positive energy. We heard Betis singing afterwards and I told my team-mates we should listen to it and use it to turn our anger into positive energy. That's the only way we're going to be able to push on from here and get the points we need in the league.

“We didn't lose to a second-rate team. Betis are an excellent team with some top-quality individuals who can create something out of nothing but I think we contained them well. They didn't run riot or anything. We were always in the game. 

“It's always better to win but you can always learn something when you lose and that's what we have to do: take something from this defeat and use it in Serie A.

“The fans did a wonderful thing after the game by showed their support for us. Now we all need to focus together to finish the season as well as we can and get back into Europe where we deserve to be.”