Bayern gearing up for historic comeback

Ryland James 15:18 12/05/2015
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  • Ready for Barca: Pep Guardiola (l) and Robert Lewandowski.

    Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is determined to honour his contract with the Bundesliga champions despite reports the former Barcelona tactician has already agreed terms to replace Manuel Pellegrini as coach of Manchester City at the end of the season.

    Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Sports tweeted on Saturday that Guardiola has made a verbal agreement to manage City next season.

    Former Bayern, City and Germany midfielder, and Sky expert, Dietmar Hamann said: “From my information they are in the advanced stages of discussions and it is very possible that he will already start there next season.”

    But Guardiola, whose current deal expires in the summer of 2016, has brushed aside such speculation and claims he has no plans to leave the Allianz Arena any time soon.

    “Oh, boys. I have said 200 million times that I have a year left on my contract and will be here next season. That’s it!,” said an exasperated Guardiola ahead of their semi-final, second leg, against Barcelona having lost the first leg 3-0 away.

    Guardiola joined Bayern in the summer of 2013 after enjoying incredible success with Barcelona, first as a player and then as a coach.

    The 44-year-old won 14 titles – including two Champions League crowns – in a trophy-laden four-year stint at the helm of the Catalan giants.

    And Guardiola, who is considered by many of his peers as the world’s best coach, has followed his success at Barca by winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles. 

    But despite that, and the speculation that City want him, Guardiola is unwilling to talk himself up.

    “To be the best coach in the world means s***,” he said. “I’ve said it a million times. I win because I have great players.”

    Bayern have suffered a drop in form since winning the Bundesliga title last month and Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Augsburg was their fourth straight loss in all competitions.

    “I have won everything as a coach and as a player,” Guardiola said.  “I always give the best of me. I’m happy. If I lose, it’s not the end of my career.”

    But forward Thomas Muller believes Munich can make a statement to the footballing world by surmounting their three-goal deficit to beat Barca.

    Having already turned over a 3-1 first-leg defeat to triumph 6-1 against Porto in the quarter-finals, Muller believes Bayern can again pull off the unlikely and shock the Spanish league leaders.

    “I wouldn’t say that we need a miracle,” said 25-year-old Muller.  

    “Since we left the Camp Nou we have wanted to make up for it. If we go through, it will be a statement which the football world didn’t expect.

    “Whether or not that could be classed as a miracle is up to you, but in football, many things are possible. 

    “That’s why there’s still hope and we still believe in ourselves. We’re in a similar position to when we were sat here two weeks ago. We can’t expect things to go like they did against Porto, but that’s what we need.”

    Bayern have won all five home games en route to the semi-finals but take on a Barca side that has won four consecutive away games in the competition.

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