Pep Guardiola’s trousers were left in a better state than poor Porto amid Munich mauling
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ByEurosport
Updated 22/04/2015 at 09:36 GMT
In-depth: Pep Guardiola's trousers and Porto collapsed as Bayern Munich gave their coach a massive vote of confidence in a 6-1 quarter-final savaging.
Pep Guardiola
Image credit: Imago
WHAT HAPPENED?
Bayern Munich progressed to the last four of the Champions League with a disembowelling of Portugal’s sole representative Porto. Trailing 3-1 from the first leg in Oporto six days ago, Pep Guardiola’s side completed a rousing 6-1 win back at base to touch down in the last four 7-4 on aggregate.
Many commentators wondered if Pep Guardiola was finished as Bayern Munich coach.
That quickly descended into as big a misplaced prediction as the visiting side’s passing game. Thiago Alcantara, Jerome Boeteng, Thomas Mueller and a couple from Robert Lewandowski helped Bayern ease 5-0 ahead after only 40 minutes. Jackson Martinez scored for Porto before Xabi Alonso curled a sixth for the home team from a late free-kick.
And to think Pep was apparently under pressure prior watching this slaughtering as the Portuguese men o' war ran the white flag up a pole before the first half was out.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID
Pep Guardiola, Bayern Munich coach: “We are very, very happy about this performance, especially after recent weeks when we had our problems scoring goals. We can play even better! In the second half they changed their system and we had our problems. In the first half they had no chances, in the second they had some. In the Champions League you can never switch off. Even after the game in Porto I had the feeling that we could make it. You always make up the difference in your head. I always try to analyse our opponents. It was not such a big surprise how they played in Porto. They have a very good team, but today they were not able to reach their level.”
Julen Lopetegui, Porto coach: “We didn't play well in the first half. Bayern are one of the best teams in Europe and are one of the favourites to win the UEFA Champions League. We have to remember that in terms of experience, there are three or four hundred matches' difference between the two sides. We've lost by three goals overall in a competition where we've been excellent all season. We've got a young team and we'll bounce back. Bayern are an extremely strong team – the best in Europe in my opinion.”
WHAT DOES IT MEAN
It means Bayern Munich are 13/8 favourites for the tournament ahead of Friday’s semi-final draw in Nyon. Bayern are into the last four for a fourth straight year. Potential meetings with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus or Monaco should hold no fear for them with Arjen Robben ready to return from injury for the death throes of the tournament.
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Bayern celebrate as they power into the final four
Image credit: Reuters
Poor Porto were left in a worse state than Pep's buckling trousers. Of course, it is easy to gush in the aftermath of a 6-1 win, but it was the style and ruthlessness of Bayern’s performance that was so easy on the eye. Porto saw the assault coming from some way out yet were powerless to prevent the deluge washing over them. Bayern are close to a 24th German title. They may well be lifting a sixth European Cup next month.
WHAT THE MEDIA SAID
Guardiola’s Bayern were simply majestic, however, brutally disposing of Porto with a first-half mauling that saw the Germans lead 5-0 at the interval. When the fifth went in, Guardiola was seen shouting Wow! on the touchline, such was the style of his team’s fightback. And in the excitement, Guardiola’s skin-hugging trousers split, leaving a gaping hole in his left leg, but it could have been worse had Porto not gone the same way as his expensive grey threads. Mark Ogden, Daily Telegraph
Almost as remarkable, in a perverse kind of way, was Porto’s own first-half collapse. They were abject in losing 6-1, undone by Bayern’s ruthless exposing of weakness on the flanks via classically Guardiola-ish switches of play and a bravura performance of centre-forward craft and strength from Robert Lewandowski. Barney Ronay, The Guardian
WHAT THE FANS SAID
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