In 2009 Bayern went out to Barca 5-1 on Aggregate, bear in mind this was probably the best Barca side in history. This is what Klinsmann and Beckenbauer said after going out to Barca.
Klinsmann
“From my point of view, the match was a great disappointment,” he told uefa.com after the game.
“It is difficult to explain. The key was to fight for every ball but two goals early in the game did a lot of damage and we did not fight hard enough.
“We need to overcome the criticism. It is a very hard defeat and difficult to digest.”
But the former German international striker also credited and heaped praise on Bayern's opponents.
“Barcelona played very well and showed our limitations. It is quite possible that we have just played against the future champions of Europe,” he said. “[Lionel] Messi is a great player and it’s a pleasure to see him playing.
“We want to be among the four best teams in Europe but we have a lot of improving to do. It is very difficult to compensate for the absences of important players like Lucio, [Daniel] van Buyten and [Philipp] Lahm.
“Now, we must concentrate on the fight for the Bundesliga title and ensure we are in the Champions League again next season.”We went out 10-2 on aggregrate to Bayern, this is what Wenger said....
Beckenbauer
“What I saw in the first half was without a doubt the worst football Bayern have played in their entire history,” he said after the match.
“It was an exhibition. Almost a humiliation. Barcelona gave us a lesson in football.”
Die Roten chairman Karl-Heinze Rummenigge, meanwhile, refused to comment on the future of under-fire coach Jurgen Klinsmann but instead rallied his side to bounce back on the domestic front.
“We have no chance in the Champions League now, that is obvious,” he boomed.
Wenger on the defeat…
I felt that we produced a performance with the spirit and the pride that we wanted. After that the story finishes badly. Personally, I would say that we really put Bayern under pressure and that we were really unlucky tonight because it was 100 per cent a penalty in the first half after the foul on Walcott. I checked it on television. In the second half, the referee killed the game. After that, it was very difficult but the referee was very, very powerful for Bayern tonight. At that moment in the game, not only was it not a penalty, but Lewandowski was offside. On top of that, he gave us a red card and that killed us completely. Overall I must say that Bayern are a good side, but tonight they can also say thank you to the decisions of the referee in the second half.
Wenger on how he feels…
It leaves me very angry, very frustrated and, because we are in a difficult period, it hurts even more. It’s absolutely unexplainable and scandalous. You look at what really happened, and the guy behind the line gives the penalty and the red card when the referee had given a yellow. Okay we have to take it on the chin and I have to stand up for it, and I will take a lot of criticism, but it doesn’t change my mind. We have to deal with these kinds of situations in this game but that doesn’t make them right.
Wenger on whether the players have let him down…
No, I feel the referee has let us down.
Wenger on the lack of leadership shown after Koscielny’s dismissal…
It’s difficult when you have to go forward and score goals. You have a deficit of four goals and you’re down to 10 men. If you go forward you can be caught on the counter-attack but if you don’t go forward then people will say, ‘Why did you not at least try to score goals?’ so it’s a difficult situation. It’s an impossible situation.
Compare and contrast, Bayern accepted they needed to buck their ideas up and improve and they did so by reaching CL finals and winning CL in between that period of 2009 and now.
Wenger on whether this is his most disappointing European night…
I don’t think so because we knew before the game that it would be difficult to qualify after the first leg. We wanted to at least go home and feel we dealt with the situation with pride and commitment. We did that. The fact that the end result will not highlight the quality of our performance is very disappointing.
Wenger on why Arsenal cannot compete with Bayern…
I think we can compete with Bayern Munich and we have shown that tonight in the first half. I believe the second half was a very difficult situation for us. Bayern are a good team and they do what they want in Germany, which we cannot do in England. Nobody can compete with them, they take the players they want and they are a bit lonely on the market. That’s not the case in England.
Wenger on what needs to change at Arsenal…
What needs to change at this club? What do you mean by that? I think this club is in great shape but we’re just going through a very difficult situation at the moment. What needs to change is the result in the next game.
Wenger on whether his players gave everything tonight…
It was difficult in the final 20 minutes because you have no hope of qualifying anymore. Bayern brought fresh players on and it was of course very difficult.
Wenger on the other hand is in complete denial at the task at hand...he doesn't even think anything is wrong.....
Reply With Quote