Michael O'Neill was left frustrated and disappointed after watching Northern Ireland lose out to Germany on Monday night.
Despite being massive underdogs for the game - they were 9/1 with most bookmakers - O'Neill came away from the Euro 2020 qualifier thinking of what might have been.
Conor Washington squandered two great chances in the first half, while Stuart Dallas dragged a shot wide of the post in the second period.
'Wasted opportunity' was how O'Neill described the game, as goals from Marcel Halstenberg and Serge Gnabry earned Germany a spirited victory .
O'Neill is aware of his side's strengths, and also accepts where they fall short at elite international level.
One of the positives is that four of his players are currently with Premier League clubs.
Jonny Evans (Leicester), Craig Cathcart (Watford) and Jamal Lewis (Norwich) have all played in England's top flight this season - all three are defenders.
Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell is with Burnley but has yet to play following his move from Leeds United in the summer.
O'Neill accepts he can't influence where his players play their club football, but admits a lack of Premier League experience will ultimately take its toll against top international sides such as Germany.
"Any international manager wants their players playing at the top level," he said.
"It is more difficult for the smaller nations, Scotland, Wales and ourselves. I don't see it changing any time soon.
"It is great to see Jamal Lewis in the Premier League with Jonny Evans and Craig Cathcart.
"A lack of players playing in the Premier League is something we will be fighting against. It is hard to see how players can get above Championship level.
"That's fine when Northern Ireland play in the middle tier of European football. I think that's where we are at when you look at the Nations League seedings.
"But when you take on the bigger nations it is a different level, especially in the final third of the pitch.
"Three of our Premier League players play in the back four, and that is the challenge we face."
O'Neill praised Northern Ireland's energy and spirit against a classy German side on Monday night, but feels a lack of composure with the ball contributed to their defeat.
"We have to improve when we have the ball," he added.
"There are two tempos. One to get ball back, and then having the composure when you have it. We need to do that second part better.
"But we were better in transition. We won the ball back and created chances."
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