Pep: We can still reach the final
GUARDIOLA: I’VE NEVER THOUGHT WE HAVE NO CHANCE
Bayern would have to make history to go through.
Munich
Pep Guardiola believes Bayern Munich’s star-studded squad has the quality to overturn a three-goal deficit to shock Barcelona in tonight’s Champions League semifinal, second leg despite their four-match losing streak.
Bayern are chasing a miracle at the Allianz Arena after their humbling 3- 0 first-leg defeat last Wednesday when Lionel Messi capped a dazzling display with two goals to sour Guardiola’s return to Barcelona’s Camp Nou.
No team has ever overturned a three-goal deficit in a European semifinal.
With his side staring down the barrel of a semifinal exit for the second year running, Guardiola knows Bayern can ill-afford to throw caution to the wind against a Barcelona attack boasting Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
But he believes they can shock the Spanish league leaders.
“We have to defend well and control the game,” said the 44-year-old, who has denied rumours linking him to Manchester City for next season..
One factor in Bayern’s favour is that they emphatically turned their 3-1 quarterfinal, fi rst-leg defeat at Porto into a 6-1 rout in Munich with five goals in the opening 45 minutes.
But a fortnight on, Bayern are on a four-match losing streak, although Guardiola insists confidence is not a problem.
“The players have showed that they want this,” said the Spaniard.
Barcelona arrive with a significant advantage in their bid for a first victory in the Bavarian capital.
Strangely, Barca couch Luis Enrique has insisted “it doesn’t look good for us”, but Guardiola admits he would have said the same thing if the roles were reversed.
“As a coach, you don’t know what will happen, I would have said the same in his position,” said Guardiola. –