Carlo Ancelotti can take Bayern Munich to UCL final – Pep Guardiola

• Posted on May 5, 2016
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola hopes that incoming manager Carlo Ancelotti can take the club to the Champions League final after they exited in the semifinals to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

Bayern triumphed 2-1 at the Allianz Arena but the result was not enough for them as Atletico Madrid progressed on away goals thanks to Antoine Griezmann’s second-half strike.

The Bundesliga giants, who won the Champions League under Jupp Heynckes in 2013, failed to go beyond the semifinals in each of Guardiola’s three seasons in charge.

Guardiola, who is leaving for Manchester City in the summer and will be replaced by Ancelotti, said on Spanish TV: “Congratulations to Atletico for making the final. We have tried, as we did last year against Barcelona, and that’s it.

“I am happy to have come here [to Bayern]. I hope that Ancelotti can bring that final step to the team that I could not in three years.”

In his postgame news conference, Guardiola said he put his best effort into making Bayern champions of Europe.

“I’ve been happy to work here, because of these players,” he said. “The new coach can be happy to work with these guys. Of course I wanted to win the Champions League with Bayern and I tried my best to do that — I’ve given my life for this team.

“I’m proud of us. We played very well in the second half in Madrid, and in the match here tonight. We played very well against Juventus, against Benfica and against Atletico — with all that I can sleep quite well.

“Of course it was my aim to win this competition here — we tried our best and played as well as we could. But I’m happy with my time here — I’ve enjoyed it here. We wanted to win the cup but it doesn’t change my time here.

“Titles are just statistics. I can just tell you that I gave everything for my players. I worked hard to adapt to the Bundesliga and make my players better. I have no regrets.”

Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said the squad wanted to win the Champions League before Guardiola’s departure.

“It’s a pity that we couldn’t reward ourselves and the coach for the last three years,” Lahm said.

Asked whether Thomas Muller’s saved penalty in the second half was decisive, Guardiola said: “I don’t know what would have happened had he scored. We should have scored there when we could have.

“We did almost everything well, but these details count. These things can happen — you can have so many shots, but in the end, we must lift ourselves up now and try and win our league.”

Bayern now turn their attention to securing the Bundesliga, where they enjoy a five-point lead over Dortmund with two rounds remaining. They will also face Dortmund in the DFB Pokal final on May 21.

“We’re not German champions yet — we still need a point. Hopefully we can get that on Saturday,” Guardiola said. “Today, everyone — me, the players and the fans — is sad but my players can still be proud of what they’ve done this season.”

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