Twente played more for than an hour with a man down in Portugal after goalkeeper Sander Boschker was sent off, but the Dutch visitors hung on to draw 0-0 in the third qualifying round first leg.

"It was a very good achievement, especially because we had to play with 10 men for over an hour. The players fought a heroic battle," said McClaren.

"Looking at the organisation, the discipline and the effort, we did an awesome job.

"In the closing stages of the match we even had the chance to come away with a victory."

Blaise Nkufo came close to putting Twente ahead in the dying seconds.

McClaren added: "We came to Portugal with the aim of making sure the game in Enschede would be decisive and we succeeded in that.

"But we're only halfway and still have to go a long way."