Stephen McPhail can put play-off heartache into perspective but admits losing at Wembley is still painful.
Bluebirds midfielder trying to put agony of defeat into perspective
Stephen McPhail can put play-off heartache into perspective but admits losing at Wembley is still painful.
The experienced midfielder was part of the Cardiff City side that lost 3-2 to Blackpool on Saturday in the Championship play-off final.
Missing out on a place in the Premier League has come as a crushing blow to all those concerned with the Welsh outfit, with a long, hard season having amounted to nothing.
McPhail admits falling at the final hurdle is an agonising way to wrap up any campaign, but accepts that he must be grateful for being in that position at all.
Less than six months ago the 30-year-old was battling cancer, with football the last thing on his mind at that stage.
He overcame great personal trauma to make Saturday's date with the Seasiders, but insists that did not make defeat any easier to stomach.
Blessed
"It was not so long ago my life was in someone else's hands, so I feel blessed to be playing," McPhail said in
The Sun.
"But it still hurts as much when you get back on the pitch and lose games like this.
"I wanted to do it for all those fans who have sent me letters and helped me get through the treatment in December."
McPhail was diagnosed with stage one MALT lymphoma in November, but was back in action by February.
"The chance to play at Wembley drove me," he added.
