Skip to content

Guardiola 'proud' of Bayern Munich players despite elimination

Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters

Pep Guardiola's last foray in the Champions League with Bayern Munich ended in a disappointing and familiar fashion, as his side was knocked out at the semi-final stage courtesy of the away-goal rule.

Related: Pep Guardiola's Champions League semi-final curse

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann's 54th-minute finish was enough to dump the German giant from the competition, but Guardiola, who will succeed Manuel Pellegrini at the Manchester City helm this summer, is pleased with the efforts from his charges.

"I am proud of my team," Guardiola said after the match. "We played very well in Madrid and in the match here."

Jan Oblak's penalty save from Thomas Muller prevented Bayern going 2-0 up after 34 minutes, and it proved the difference in an enthralling encounter at the Allianz Arena.

Related: Atletico upsets Bayern Munich, books Champions League final berth

"It will hurt for a couple of days, but life goes on. We still have two big goals to reach," defender Jerome Boateng reflected, noting his team's unfinished business in the Bundesliga - in which it leads the division by a five-point cushion with two games left - and the DFB Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund on May 21.

Atletico, meanwhile, will watch Real Madrid's hosting of Manchester City on Wednesday with great interest, as it decides who will face Diego Simeone's squad at Milan's San Siro on May 28.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox