The FC Twente story: heads held high

After bowing out of the UEFA Champions League with their heads held high, FC Twente reflect on a "positive" first campaign among Europe's elite in the latest part of our documentary on the Dutch club.

"As the weather was getting colder the experience and the football of FC Twente was getting warmer," said journalist Peter Wekking of creditable performances against holders FC Internazionale Milano, Tottenham Hotspur FC and SV Werder Bremen.

There was evidence as early as Matchday 1 − when they ran Inter close in a 2-2 home draw − of Michel Preud'homme's assertion that his team achieved "some beautiful things" en route to a third-place finish and a UEFA Europa League berth. The Twente coach identifies that game as one of the Tukkers' Group A highlights, together with the 2-0 triumph at Bremen, where two goals in the last nine minutes − from Nacer Chadli and Luuk de Jong − earned an injury-hit Twente an "unexpected" first UEFA Champions League victory.

In between times, Twente suffered a harsh 4-1 beating by Tottenham, though those who watched that open encounter at White Hart Lane will no doubt agree with Preud'homme's assessment that the Eredivisie side were "never overwhelmed by any team". Their journey concluded with a thrilling 3-3 home draw with Tottenham, when they fought back to equalise on three occasions. After ending a campaign in which Preud'homme's charges were commended for their liberating brand of attacking football, their thoughts now turn to February and the UEFA Europa League round of 32, where FC Rubin Kazan await.