Stephen Glass insisted Qarabag handed his Aberdeen side a sore and real Europa Conference League lesson.
The disappointed manager stated there was no embarrassment as his side were beaten by a far better team.
Aberdeen crashed 3-1 at Pittodrie last night and 4-1 on aggregate to the Azerbaijani side.
Qarabag can now look forward to group stage football and Glass knows that is the level his side need to aspire to.
Glass completed the signing of Marley Watkins before the game and is now closing in on the loan signing of Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff.
Glass said: “The aim is to keep improving.
“We’ve been great in the league and get a chance to bounce back on Sunday.
“The boys have been really resilient all the time. Hacken and Breidablik were good teams and it was still alive tonight.
“It was maybe fortunate we didn’t play on a good pitch last week with the way they played.
“It’s a sore and real lesson and something our group will be better for.
“They have quality at the top end and they leave two or three up there and trust the group to defend. They have the quality to do it.
“It’s tactically different to what we’re used to but quality players are difficult to play against.
“There are six high up the pitch and when they look after the ball the way they do it’s not going to be easy. It’s not an excuse.”
Glass knows his team need to lick their wounds and to show their quality in the Scottish Premiership. He knows his team will have learned a lot from taking on such quality opposition.
Glass added: “We started well then they got the goal out of nothing. We paid the price for the quality they had.
“The second goal looked like it was offside but I wouldn’t say Aberdeen were the better team.
“You always think you have the opportunity and we’re disappointed. They’re a team that’s very well coached and full of very good players.
“They showed their quality and it was no embarrassment to say we were beaten by the better team. It was clear to see.
“But our young players have more experience under their belts. We want to get to that level and I think we can do what they did to us to some teams in Scotland.
”It was maybe fortunate we didn’t play on good pitch last week with the way they played. It’s a sore and real lesson and something our group will be better from.
“They were a level above us.”
Delighted Qarabag boss Gurban Gurbanov admitted the Red Army created an astonishing atmosphere and was pleased his side rose to the occasion, to reach the group stages and to spoil their party.
“We had quite difficult travel and we are very happy with such a win," he said. “The atmosphere was perfect, astonishing. The supporters were great. I congratulate our team.
“I wouldn’t call it easy. Our players can play but we prepared very well. I’m very happy our players played till the last seconds of the game.
“Here the pitch was great and we were really happy to play in front of these fans and my players enjoyed it here.
“We always tried to play forwards to get a better result.”
Glass is still looking to add Longstaff and others before the deadline.
He confirmed: “Anyone we add will be coming to make the group stronger.
“We’re looking to add. By the end of the week we should be able to finalise things.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen are likely to face UEFA disciplinary proceedings after a fan ran on to the pitch after their stoppage time penalty award.
The incident has been included of the match observer and is likely to see Aberdeen face action.
