Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren says they must go on and win the UEFA Cup after last night's incredible comeback against Steaua Bucharest.
Boro were 3-0 behind on aggregate after 24 minutes. But as against Basel in the quarter-final, they hit back with four goals - and Massimo Maccarone once more bagged the decider.
McClaren joked: "I said lightning couldn't strike twice in the same place and it has done. I can't praise the players enough. We did it the hard way but we're in the final and deserve it."
McClaren insisted he was not thinking about events at Soho Square on the day the FA offered the England job to Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Mac said: "What disappointment about England?
"All I've been concentrating on is this game and the chance to get into a European final.
"My thoughts have been solely on this job.
"I've had three semi-finals in a week so how could I have thought about anything else.
"It's been a saga and it's up to the FA how they approach it.
"Until something is finalised we are dealing with ifs and maybes."
Boro will play Spanish side Seville in the final in Eindhoven on May 10.
That possibility looked a long way off when Nicolae Dica and Dorin Goian gave Steaua Bucharest a 3-0 lead on aggregate.
But Maccarone gave the Teessiders a lifeline before Mark Viduka and Chris Riggott levelled the tie in the second half.
McClaren added: "It's a phenomenal achievement.
"First we had to play 38 games to get into Europe and now we've needed 15 games to get to the final.
"We must go on and win it. If we're 3-0 down after 10 minutes we will be OK!"
Boro were 3-0 behind on aggregate after 24 minutes. But as against Basel in the quarter-final, they hit back with four goals - and Massimo Maccarone once more bagged the decider.
McClaren joked: "I said lightning couldn't strike twice in the same place and it has done. I can't praise the players enough. We did it the hard way but we're in the final and deserve it."
McClaren insisted he was not thinking about events at Soho Square on the day the FA offered the England job to Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Mac said: "What disappointment about England?
"All I've been concentrating on is this game and the chance to get into a European final.
"My thoughts have been solely on this job.
"I've had three semi-finals in a week so how could I have thought about anything else.
"It's been a saga and it's up to the FA how they approach it.
"Until something is finalised we are dealing with ifs and maybes."
Boro will play Spanish side Seville in the final in Eindhoven on May 10.
That possibility looked a long way off when Nicolae Dica and Dorin Goian gave Steaua Bucharest a 3-0 lead on aggregate.
But Maccarone gave the Teessiders a lifeline before Mark Viduka and Chris Riggott levelled the tie in the second half.
McClaren added: "It's a phenomenal achievement.
"First we had to play 38 games to get into Europe and now we've needed 15 games to get to the final.
"We must go on and win it. If we're 3-0 down after 10 minutes we will be OK!"
