Daniel Farke promised that Leeds United will “go again” next season after failing to gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Southampton were the ones who earned that right on Saturday thanks to an Adam Armstrong goal in the 24th minute of the game at Wembley Stadium.
Dan James hit the bar with a thunderous strike in the second half, but the Whites could not find an equaliser before the final whistle blew.
Leeds will be one of the early favourites to get promoted from the Championship next season, but that will be scant consolation for Farke, who has to pick his players up from this disappointment.
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“It’s important to allow the players (to get over the defeat),” he told Sky Sports. “You learn a lot from setbacks, especially as we’re a young side. We’re developing our personality and there’s no reason to dwell on this as the lads played a fantastic season.
“We collected 90 points and I was proud of us in many ways again today. We could have been more effective in the final third today but we won’t dwell on this. We’ll suffer for a few days and then we’ll recover and go again.
“Today it hurts as we weren’t the worst side in this final but they were more effective.
“This club and our supporters are second to none not only in the Championship but in this country. They have carried us and understand what today meant to the players.”
Leeds ended the league campaign third in the table with 90 points – the joint-highest points total of any Championship team to not earn promotion to the top flight.
“It’s a disappointing day but I hope they stick together with us and are prepared to go again.
“It’s a new feeling for me as in the last three years in this league, two times I’ve been promoted so today I was one step away from being promoted again. I have to deal with it but I’ll go again.
“Today they were just one percent better.”
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