Former Fulham captain Danny Murphy was trying to keep his team-mates calm ahead of their Europa League final against Atletico Madrid.
The Whites had produced an amazing comeback against Juventus before reaching the final by beating Hamburg.
However, Atletico proved to be a step too far as Diego Forlan's goal broke Fulham fans' hearts two minutes from penalties.
“It was the most devastated I've ever been,” he told Sky's The Fantasy Football Club. “I didn't do a big rousing speech.
“My philosophy when I was in the big games was trying to keep them calm. Sometimes you see them drift away in the corner. I wanted them to stay calm.
“Mark Schwarzer did a rousing speech - he was good at that. I was telling them to trust in our system.”
Forlan had given the Spanish side the lead before Simon Davies equalised soon after.
Penalties were looming but the former Manchester United man struck with two minutes left on the clock to give Atletico the trophy.
Murphy reflected: “We did get a bit unlucky in the final, coming up against Aguero or Forlan so we couldn't go after them.
“Andy Johnson was injured. Bobby was playing with a bad Achilles. It wasn't meant to be. Two minutes away from penalties and I fancied us with Schwarzer in goal.”
