91Èȱ¬

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Oscar Garcia insists "it has been a very good season" despite losing heavily to Derby County in the Championship play-offs.

The Seagulls only secured a sixth-place finish when Leonardo Ulloa headed a last-minute winner at Nottingham Forest in the final game of the league season.

That set up a semi-final tie with Derby which they lost 6-2 on aggregate after a 4-1 second-leg away defeat on Sunday.

"I couldn't be prouder of my players - Derby were just better," said Garcia.

"There was not much we could do about that. We are disappointed, but if you see the whole picture, it has been a very good season."

Brighton lost to Crystal Palace in the play-offs last campaign, a setback that ultimately led to the departure of boss Gus Poyet.

His exit prompted the arrival of Garcia, who recovered from a slow start at the club to clinch a top-six finish courtesy of an eight-match unbeaten run.

When asked about planning for next season at the Amex Stadium, the Spaniard appeared coy on his future.

"The squad gave me everything and it has been a real pleasure to be their manager," 41 year-old Garcia told 91Èȱ¬ Sussex.

"We have dealt with a lot of injury problems this season, and I have to tell the players I am very proud of them, then we will see what happens."