‘Players were in tears, it is cruel’
it’s also a high point. The players are emotional and upset. There were some players in tears, everyone was struggling to hold back their emotions.
“We would have been disappointed if we had just lost but we’re devastated because of the way we lost – and the goal that decided the tie.
“We’ve gone toe-to-toe with a very good side. The cruelty is that it was decided by a really poor decision in the first leg and a penalty that should never have been.
“We should still be out on the pitch now fighting for our place to go to Russia. Yes, the Swiss were better team in the first leg but we were the better team tonight. We continued to push and dream. That’s what we asked. They gave us that – and more. As a manger you can’t ask for more than what we got.
“You can’t compare the two legs and performance. The first leg was tense and tactical. We didn’t deal with that as well as we could have done.
“What we got was a reaction. The game was less tactical, more emotional, it was about character and being brave.”
O’Neill said that some of his long-serving players such as Gareth McAuley, Aaron Hughes and Chris Brunt, could now call time on their international careers.
“For some of these players it’s unlikely the World Cup will come round again,” he said.
“It’s a difficult time and they will make decisions going forward, certainly the likes of Aaron and Gareth, at 38 and 37, and Chris.
“They’ve had long and established careers, but for me, they have time to make that decision because we don’t play again until March.”