Iker Casillas admits Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League elimination has seen them hit a new low.
The Primera Liga giants slipped out of Europe's premier club competition at the hands of Lyon on Wednesday night.
A 1-1 draw at Santiago Bernabeu was not enough, as they crashed out 2-1 on aggregate.
Real have now tumbled at that stage of the competition in each of the last six seasons and Casillas admits there can be no excuses for their continued failings.
"Our defeat at this stage is another body blow, like the one when we lost to Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey," said the Spain international shot-stopper.
"It is difficult to say why these results keep happening, but we have no excuses.
Apology"We believed in our chances this season and this is a hard result to take, for us and the supporters.
"I personally apologise to the fans for breaking their dreams."
While Real's Champions League adventure is over for another year, they are still well on course to reclaim their domestic title.
They currently lead the way with 15 games remaining and Casillas admits the club must put all their energy into fending off the challenge of arch-rivals Barcelona.
"The most important thing now is to regroup and fight until the death in the league," he said.
"I am angry not to have made the final of the Champions League (set to be staged at the Bernabeu) but we must now be calm and focus on winning the league."
a.top_betting_link_1 {background-image: url('/Images/skysports/fixturecal/icons/fix-bet.gif');background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:0% 50%;padding-left:18px;}La Liga 2009/10 Win Outright: Real Madrid 10/11
