Zlatan Ibrahimovic has acknowledged it is too soon for Paris Saint-Germain to win the Champions League after their exit to Barcelona.
Ibrahimovic, 33, is one of a wealth of big-name, big-money signings PSG's owners, Qatari Sports Investments (QSI), have made since taking over the club in 2011 with a view to making the French champions a continental powerhouse.
They have won two Ligue 1 titles and a brace of Coupe de la Ligues since, and Laurent Blanc's men could even seal a domestic treble this season.
That will be their main goal following the end of their European adventure with a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Barca, who condemned PSG to a third successive quarterfinal exit.
"You have to be realistic, they were better than us. They were the better team and deserved to win. Actually, they'll probably win the Champions League," Ibrahimovic told media after his team's 2-0 second-leg defeat.
"As for us, it's not possible to achieve that goal in such a short space of time. We have taken some big steps and been knocked out by a superb team. There's no need to lie or hide the truth. That's just the reality."
PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi has made little secret of his and QSI's ambition of winning European club football's top prize.
Despite failure again this season, Al Khelaifi defended coach Laurent Blanc, confirming the former Manchester United defender will head into the final year of his current contract still at the helm.
"Of course. He does good work," the Qatari replied when asked whether Blanc would be in charge next season.
"We lost against a great Barca side, the best team in the world in my opinion. It has been a very difficult evening, but you have to stay positive. The coach has done a lot of positive things and I hope the media aren't going to attack him. Otherwise, they'll have to attack everyone."
After taking over from Carlo Ancelotti in summer 2013 with media reporting he was not PSG's first-choice successor, Blanc can justifiably claim to have improved the side.
The former Bordeaux and France boss picked up the Ligue 1 title last season with a record points tally as well as winning the Coupe de la Ligue.
Blanc defended that latter title earlier this month, and has steered his team through to May's Coupe de France final where PSG start overwhelming favourites against second-tier AJ Auxerre.
Blanc's men are also in contention to pick up a third successive Ligue 1 title as they trail leaders Lyon on goal difference and have a game in hand.
According to Al Khelaifi, his coach will have an upgraded squad at his disposal as Blanc plots a route through the Champions League that takes PSG beyond the last-eight.
"I think we'll be stronger. This season, we knocked out Chelsea, who knocked us out last season. Why not beat Barcelona next year?" asked Al Khelaifi, who has been at the head of the club since QSI took over.
"When we bought the club, we knew it was going to be tricky. It's only been four years. This season, we have done a lot in the Champions League. There are positives and negatives."