JUPP LEAVES PEP IN SHADE — AGAIN

SO He did it again. At the age of 72, Jupp Heynckes won the title with Bayern Munich at the weekend and, in doing so, stole Pep Guardiola’s thunder. Heynckes was the Munich coach the year before Guardiola arrived and won the treble of league, cup and Champions League that put the new man’s achievements in the shade. Whatever Guardiola won at Munich, it couldn’t top Heynckes — and he never succeeded in europe the way his predecessor did. Last Saturday, April 7, both men were on course to claim the title: Guardiola as coach of Manchester City, Heynckes as Munich caretaker, having replaced Carlo Ancelotti midseason. Guardiola lost the Manchester derby and still waits, Munich won a Bavarian derby, at Augsburg 4-1 — giving Heynckes his fourth Bundesliga crown in three spells at the club. Heynckes looks set fair to reach the Champions League semi-finals, too — his team lead Sevilla 2-1 with the second leg at home — and are also in the semi-finals of the German Cup, meaning he remains on course for another treble. He has already said he intends to stand down at the end of this season, leaving some poor soul in his shadow once more, and he dedicated Munich’s title to the man he replaced, Ancelotti. Some achievement and some guy. THE Europa League may be considered a miserable downgrade to members of the Premier League elite, but not to Burnley. The club last played in Europe in 1967 and if boss Sean Dyche could steer his team back there it would be a stupendous achievement. The competition may never achieve the epic prestige of tonight’s match, but European success is relative and for Burnley to be in a UEFA draw with the likes of AC Milan or Sevilla would be a triumph. Yes, next season would then be a big test and a demanding balancing act, but if Burnley do not wish to embrace such a landmark achievement, what is the point?