Harrison urges Saints to regroup after Champions League exit

The New Saints were knocked out of the Champions League after a 4-1 aggregate defeat to Sabah, leaving the Welsh champions to face a new challenge in Europe. Head coach Craig Harrison warned that lingering on the loss would not help the club as they turn their focus to the Conference League.

The empty seats at Park Hall echoed the disappointment of a home crowd that watched The New Saints fall behind early against Sabah, the Azerbaijani champions, on a chilly evening that ended in a 2-1 defeat. The early goal set the tone for a match in which the Saints could not recover.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves," Harrison told BBC Radio Shropshire. "We've given everything we have but we've not been good enough and Sabah have been better than us, so we've got to accept that. When we had moments, good times or good spells, ultimately we didn't convert that pressure into goals. But there's lots of positives as we're moving into the next game." His comments underscored the need for a swift mental reset.

Craig Harrison’s playing career included spells with Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace, as noted by Craig Thomas of the FAW, before he took charge of the Cymru Premier champions. His experience on the English game now informs his leadership of the Saints.

With the Champions League exit confirmed, the Saints dropped into the UEFA Conference League. Harrison said the squad must refocus for the upcoming first leg against Flora Tallinn in Estonia, scheduled for next Thursday.

The Saints were without striker Brad Young, who rejoined the club during the close season after a spell at Aston Villa, for both legs due to injury. Adam Wilson, Ben Wilson and Rory Holden were also absent through injury, leaving eight players unavailable to start the game.

"We had eight players that weren't available to start the game and all of them would have been in contention," Harrison said. "But no excuses at all because I thought the lads that came in did extremely well, worked so hard and took their opportunity." He praised the replacements despite goals from Joy‑Lance Mickels and Rahman Dashdamirov putting the tie beyond them at half‑time.

Beyond the European fixtures, other Welsh football stories surfaced: Parkinson eyes progress as Wrexham meet top clubs, Williams welcomes PFA support in a new club search, and a striking feature titled "Bombs, blood, ambushes – football coaching with the army" highlighted unconventional training methods.

The Saints now turn their attention to Estonia, hoping to turn the disappointment of the Champions League exit into a fresh start in the Conference League, a shift that mirrors many clubs navigating the financial and competitive realities of European football's tiered structure.