Gary Haveron insists "any team in the league" would swap positions with Larne as he laughed off jibes that the Inver Park club's "bubble has burst".
There has been plenty of barbed commentary from rival fans this season on the champions' Premiership struggles. They currently sit 25 points adrift of leaders Linfield, albeit with five games in hand.
Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to the Blues, a game which saw Andy Ryan sent off, was the latest hammer blow to Larne's title defence.
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It has been a season punctuated with some success, however, notably the club's historic run in Europe which saw them reach the league phase of the UEFA Conference League.
Despite the long odds of sealing a third successive Gibson Cup, Haveron insists Larne have plenty to play for this season.
"There is a lot of outside noise and everyone has an opinion on Larne. We are still very much in the hunt for Europe this year considering the amount of games we have had to play," he said.
"Dylan Sloan played nearly every minute of every game since the start of the season. He is 45 games deep. It is difficult for a young player.
"You are absolutely caning the kid because he is playing two or three games a week. The boys are getting it tight in terms of recovery.
"Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou comes out and says they have had two games a week for the past two months. We have had it since the start of the season. We have had it since the European campaign, and our season started back in June.
"But would any team in our league not want to swap positions with us? Would any club not want to have that European campaign and experience?
"Dylan Sloan has nearly 20 European games under his belt which is a brilliant education for him. And he can play at that level.
"I believe that kid can go as far as he wants. European experience will only benefit him as a player."
Haveron added: "We have had to suffer at stages this season, but every club should want to be in the group stages of European competition because it is the pinnacle of club football.
"Our boys get opportunities that players in the lower half of the Premier League never get to experience.
"We suffer together and we stick together and we go again."
Haveron lamented Tuesday's defeat at Windsor Park, and the controversial sending off of striker Ryan who now faces a three-match ban. Larne have appealed the dismissal, which saw Ryan receive a straight red card for a challenge on Kyle McClean just before half-time.
"That probably sums up the frustrating season we're having, but a lot of the frustration also lies at our own front door. We have to look at our own performances, first and foremost. We haven't hit the heights in some games so we have to look at ourselves," Haveron said.
"But external things do come into it. Outside factors like refereeing decisions can play big parts in our season, and I don't feel we have had the rub of the green this year."
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