Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola said his side were unable to dominate Barcelona in their 3-0 Champions League semi-final first leg defeat.
The former Barca boss claimed he planned on trying to control possession at the Camp Nou against his former club but found it easier said than done.
“We wanted to control possession but against Barcelona you can't. If you don't have possession against them it is difficult and our plan was to monopolise the ball and make them run,” he told a Press conference.
“However, we were not dominant enough. With four defenders we were more solid than with three but we lost control in the closing stages of the match as we always try to score. “We had done well until the first goal but then we lost control.”
Guardiola’s pre-match comment describing Lionel Messi as “unstoppable” proved accurate, although the 44-year-old acknowledged Barcelona are much more than just the Argentine.
“Barca is Leo but they are also a very good team and they are on top form in all departments.
“All their players, Neymar, Luis Suarez…the best way to control them is to restrict their play but we were poorly positioned for the first two goals and the third was almost inevitable,” he remarked, before explaining why he made just one substitution over the 90 minutes and saying he was proud of his team.
“I respect the players I had on the bench but I decided to make just one change. I could have made more but I opted to stick with the team on the pitch.
“I’m very proud of my team because for two or three months now we have had problems but we’ve come this far.
“These players have won major trophies in recent years, even a World Cup. The bad things are down to me. I can only thank them. We knew who we were facing tonight.
“It has worked for me in the past to control possession and I cannot imagine football played any other way. But I congratulate Barcelona and we will see them in Munich next week,” he concluded.
