Too strong to beat
European champion wins 3-0 to advance to Club World Cup final
A lopsided loss to the European champion is enough to make Guangzhou Evergrande coach Marcello Lippi categorically proclaim the German giant the best team on the planet.
Guangzhou Evergrande got a triple dose of reality in Tuesday’s semifinal at the Club World Cup.
A one- sided 3- 0 loss to European champion Bayern Munich was enough to make Guangzhou coach Marcello Lippi categorically proclaim the German giant the best team on the planet.
“Bayern is no doubt the best team in this tournament ... and in the world,” said the 65-yearold Italian.
“When they play against other teams, they can always dominate the games with overwhelming advantages. You saw the difference between the best club in the world and all the rest.
“We didn’t attack as much as we wanted to. We didn’t pose any threat to them. From the start of the game, Bayern controlled everything.
“All their players can fill any position, and they were superior in all areas. We were not able to disrupt their game at all. That is why they are the best team in the world.”
Guangzhou, the first Chinese club to compete in the tournament, will now play for third place against the loser of Wednesday’s other semifinal between Raja Casablanca and Atletico Mineiro.
Lippi, the first and only coach to win both European and Asian Champions leagues, said fatigue was a factor for his players.
“We started this season last January. It’s nearly one whole year of work now and some Chinese players have played nearly 70 matches.
“If today we were the team that won the Asian championship last month, I’m sure we could have played better ... but not well enough to win.”
We didn’t attack as much as we wanted to. We didn’t pose any threat to them. From the start of the game, Bayern controlled everything.” MARCELLO LIPPI GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE COACH
Though the defeat is harsh, the semifinal entry marked the best result for the Chinese professional league on the world stage after Guangzhou became the first club from the country to win the Asian Champions League in November.
Lippi, after standing in the technical area for the first 45 minutes, returned to his seat in the second half as he saw nothing he could do to change the momentum of the lopsided match.
“I could not tell my players what else they could do; there is a big difference between the teams,” he said.
“There was nothing left to do, or to change, so I just sat down and watched. Honestly speaking, it wasn’t much of a match.”
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola praised his rival.
“Marcello Lippi’s teams are always fit and well organized, but my side deserved to make the final,” he said.
“Some of the Chinese players, like the captain and the left fullback, I recall because they once played in Europe,” Guardiola said, referring to Zheng Zhi and Sun Xiang.
On the gap between Chinese and European players, he said: “I don’t know the quality of Chinese leagues as I have no chance to watch their matches.
“But Guangzhou is a good team. Last season they lost just four games. I have a lot respect for them. Players like Conca, Muriqui and Elkeson are very good.
“But today we did the job and that’s why we deserve to be in the final.”
Despite enjoying about 70 percent possession, Bayern did not let up and peppered the Evergrande goal with 27 shots compared to just two for the Chinese squad.
Goals by France winger Franck Ribery, Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic and Germany star Mario Goetze powered the Munich club into Saturday’s final in Marrakech against the winner of Casablanca and Mineiro.
“We totally dominated because we wanted to reach the final to spare ourselves the third-place playoff,” said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm.
“We want the title, that is our task here.”