Nuno Espirito Santo was proud of Nottingham Forest despite a 1-0 final-day defeat to Chelsea denying them Champions League qualification, declaring: "We will go again."
Forest entered Sunday's slate of Premier League matches needing a victory – as well as a defeat for one of Manchester City, Newcastle United or Aston Villa – to make the top five.
Though Newcastle and Villa lost to Everton and Manchester United respectively, Forest failed to take advantage as Levi Colwill's 50th-minute tap-in sealed Champions League football for Chelsea.
While Enzo Maresca's Blues finished fourth, Forest will play in the Conference League next season after ending the campaign in seventh.
It is their highest top-flight finish since they were third in 1994-95, while they have European football to look forward to for the first time since Frank Clark led them to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 1995-96.
Despite Forest producing a tame performance at the City Ground, only managing two shots on target as Chris Wood missed a pair of presentable opportunities, Nuno was upbeat.
"After a game like this and the things that happened on the pitch, we didn't achieve the dream," he told BBC Match of the Day.
"Our first half was really good, we created many problems and had chances, but it wasn't enough.
"The anxiety in the last few minutes didn't help us. You knew that one goal could change everything."
Chelsea will be joined in the Champions League by Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Europa League victors Tottenham and Newcastle – who scraped into the top five thanks to Villa's loss at Old Trafford.
Many expected Forest to be embroiled in another relegation battle after finishing 17th in 2023-24, but Nuno is hopeful this season will not be a one-off.
"We are proud, and we will go again," the former Wolves and Spurs boss said.
"The improvement of the players is huge, the platform of the club is good. If you ask me, it's a good season because of the commitment of the players."
Nuno's long-term future at the City Ground was called into question when Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis confronted him on the pitch following a 2-2 draw with Leicester City two weeks ago, after an incident that saw Taiwo Awoniyi suffer a serious abdominal injury.
But Nuno would not be drawn on suggestions he could depart when questioned by Sky Sports, saying: "This is not the moment to speak about me, or even to think about me.
"It's the moment for the club to think about the idea for next season."