A shell-shocked Fernandinho apologised to the Brazilian people and called on his team-mates to restore a tiny bit of pride by winning the third-place playoff.
Brazil suffered their most humiliating defeat in history on Tuesday night when they were hammered 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals of their own World Cup.
There was an outpouring of anger towards the Selecao from the Brazilian people, who were convinced their team could lift the World Cup on home soil at the second time of asking.
Fernandinho, visibly shocked by the comprehensive nature of the defeat, was at a loss to explain how Brazil collapsed in such a humiliating fashion afterwards.
The only words he could mutter were apologetic ones.
"I'm not sure how long it will take for me to get over this. This pain is big, big," the Manchester City midfielder said.
"The people wanted a good result, a win, the title, but we lost in the semi-final and all we can do is say sorry."
Brazil's hopes of making the final were dashed within half an hour as their defence imploded, allowing Germany to race 5-0 ahead.
Fernandinho was one of the worst offenders in the Brazil team.
The 29-year-old was supposed to protect Brazil's back four from the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira and Toni Kroos, but those three players ran amok and before Brazil knew it, it was game over.
"The first half was unbelievable," Fernandinho added.
"Incredible things happened out there. We can try for the rest of our lives to explain what happened, but we won't find the words.
"I've never experienced anything like that in my life."
Brazil thought it was their destiny to reach the World Cup final in their spiritual home - the Maracana - but instead they will play in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
Finishing third in a World Cup is a dubious honour, but Fernandinho thinks it is still important for Brazil to win the match in Brasilia.
"The best way for us now is to try to finish in third position," said the midfielder, whose mother and wife were among the stunned crowd in the Mineiro.
"The most important thing now is the psychological recovery. We have to recover for Saturday, to play to finish the World Cup in the best way we can.
"We have three or four days to take some rest and think just about the next game."
Source: PA
