"Fourth place is not good enough for me," he said. "Fourth place hurts me but I know what has happened this year and the board knows that, too. Of course, we'd have liked to win another trophy.
"But we have made progress - last season we finished fifth. This season we wanted to get back into the Champions League and by finishing fourth we will have achieved that.
"My feeling is one of pride for my players, who have kept their dignity and faith during a difficult season in which I have been constantly under fire."