Mauricio Pochettino returned from the tunnel, looked up to the heavens and saluted the 4,000 Tottenham fans high in tiers four and five.
They sang his name one more time and the manager shook his fist before briskly disappearing once again.
Pochettino seemed to have been building up to this duel in Madrid for some time as if it was every bit an acid test for himself and his coaching staff as well as his players.
'I'm so proud of my players and the effort they put in,' said the Spurs boss.