One door has been slammed in their face and another has opened just a little wider. The fascinating question now is whether Tottenham can go on to deliver the domestic results that would make their sacrifice of this European jaunt brilliantly worthwhile.
That is the plainly Mauricio Pochettino’s sensible intention, having kept his premium powder dry across two last-16 fixtures against a Bundesliga side that clearly belongs in the Champions League.
The ensuing walloping, 5-1 on aggregate after a second defeat on Thursday night, was probably to be expected in that context.
But the vindication of the strategy will only come from how Spurs get on in their dance with the Premier League. Incredibly, unexpectedly they are the best of the rest in a race led by Leicester; quite rightly that shot at a first title since 1961 is worth going at, both barrels.
Against that consideration, what played out was no great shame. The first-leg defeat was so heavy it had already eliminated any lingering temptation to chase redemption and so there was no real sense of unease when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored midway through the first half or again late on.
MATCH FACTS
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies (Rose 13), Dier, Mason, Lamela (Onomah 74), Alli (Carroll 70), Son Heung-min, Chadli
Subs not used: Kane, Vorm, Winks, Carter-Vickers
Booked: Lamela, Alderweireld
Scorers: Son Heung-min 74
Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Subotic, Papastathopoulos (Durm 54), Schmelzer, Ginter, Weigl, Mkhitaryan (Kagawa 71), Castro, Reus (Pulisic 60), Aubameyang
Subs not used: Hummels, Sahin, Ramos, Burki
Booked: Castro
Scorers: Aubameyang 24
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli
Attendance: 34,593
Pochettino looked on, arms waving but not with the usual gusto. He knew the score.
For all the criticism of his selection in Germany, some of it self-administered by Pochettino himself, the Tottenham manager made only three changes to the side so convincingly beaten in the first leg.
He admitted on Wednesday that it had been a ‘mistake’ to rest so many of the big names, but it was somewhat revealing that he still opted to leave out Christian Eriksen and Mousa Dembele, while Harry Kane was on the bench.
Hardly the strongest available side, hardly surprising and hardly a crime given what else is at stake in the next couple of months.
There had been a genuine desire to do well in this competition but as the domestic opportunities improved, so the interest seems to have waned.
In any case, Dortmund did not need any help. They are attempting to become only the fifth side to win the European treble of Champions League, Europa League and Cup Winners’ Cup and they arrived in London with serious intent.
Like in Germany, they were a yellow blur of quick passing and hard pressing, a team that mixes tricks and endeavour and supports an excellent attacking trio.
At times last week they did all the things that Tottenham do, only a bit better. A match between both sides at full strength would be fascinating, though that might have to wait for the grander stage of the Champions League.
Here, they were already establishing control of the game when Tottenham lost Ben Davies after six minutes.
The Tottenham left-back was heavily clattered by Hugo Lloris as the goalkeeper came out to catch a Marco Reus through ball.
Davies took a shoulder to the head and needed two minutes of treatment. He played on for three minutes and then knelt down in groggy discomfort and was replaced.
Almost immediately afterwards Reus saw the first chance of the evening, meeting a Henrikh Mkhitaryan backheel and going for a gap at the near post. He pulled his shot a shade to the left and into the side netting.
Eric Dier briefly threatened by winning an aerial tussle after Erik Lamela’s corner, but the header went wide and Tottenham were soon behind to a goal that started with an error and concluded with a stroke of brilliance.
Lamela supplied the former by misplacing a pass straight to Aubameyang, but at that point the Dortmund striker was 30 yards from goal and facing the wrong way.
The touch and turn came in one motion and the finish dipped and swerved and fell inside the far post. Lloris saw the whole journey and still couldn’t keep the shot out.
For all intents and purposes, it was one sided. Son Heung-Min lost out on a race to Dortmund’s keeper, Roman Weidenfeller, when one chance arose. He later pulled a shot wide. That was really as good as it got for Spurs in the first 45 minutes.
Aubameyang had a chance to add a layer of pain in the clearest chance of a sedate second half but miscued and shot wide.
A short while later, with 70 minutes played, he did better, receiving a pass and beating Lloris before Son got one back soon after, rounding the keeper and finishing. A consolation, as it happened.
Spurs had not lost at home in nine European games but Pochettino did not seem overly concerned – he has made his choice and knows the bigger, more meaningful tests lie ahead.