Guardiola is a failure and won't be remembered at Bayern, says Olic

The former Croatia international says the coach has failed to live up to the club’s high standards after failing to lift the European Cup during his spell in charge

Pep Guardiola’s tenure at Bayern Munich has been braded “a failure” by former striker Ivica Olic, after they exited the Champions League at the semi-final stage for a third successive season.

Trailing 1-0 from their first leg with Atletico Madrid, Bayern started well on Tuesday and went on to record a 2-1 victory, but Antoine Griezmann’s away goal saw the Spaniards progress.

Bayern have dominated the Bundesliga under ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola – who will join Manchester City in 2016-17 – and could still win the double this season, but their lack of progress in Europe has led to Olic to offer a damning indictment of his time in charge.

“Guardiola was knocked out of three successive Champions League semis and by Bayern’s high standards that’s a failure,” Olic told Sportske Novosti. 

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“Maybe people at Bayern will now say he won a haul of domestic trophies, but given the strength of the club’s roster, that’s an accomplishment they should take for granted.

“Yes, Atletico play destructive football but they knew exactly what they wanted and in this chess game Simeone made all the right moves.

“Guardiola stuck to his philosophy and it failed to land a European title, although he had to deal with the burden of expectation from the start. 

“He came after Heynckes who won it all, hence Guardiola could only emulate his success. But he didn’t and won’t be remembered.”

Prior to Guardiola’s arrival Bayern had lifted the Champions League for a fifth time, Jupp Heynckes finishing his time at the club on a high at Wembley.

Ingolstadt v Bayern Munich Preview: Bundesliga title in sight for Guardiola's men

The visitors saw their hopes of lifting the European Cup ended on Tuesday at the hands of Atletico Madrid but will hope to bounce back by being crowned champions

Bayern Munich can temper the disappointment of their Champions League exit by winning a record fourth consecutive Bundesliga title against Ingolstadt on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s final attempt to make Bayern European champions before leaving for Manchester City at the end of the season ended in failure on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid progressing on away goals despite Bayern winning the second leg of their semi-final 2-1.

League success has been more forthcoming for the departing Spaniard, Guardiola on the verge of his third title in a row with two games remaining of the 2015-16 campaign.

Having dropped points in just six games – and conceded only 15 goals – Bayern sit five clear of Borussia Dortmund ahead of their first trip to Ingolstadt.

“We tried everything [against Atletico], unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” said captain Philipp Lahm.

“It’s a bitter disappointment to be knocked out. But we can still finish the season celebrating.

“We can still finish with the double.”

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Victory is far from guaranteed for Bayern, though, given Ingolstadt’s impressive home form in the second half of the season.

In 2016, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side has claimed 18 points at Audi-Sportpark – a statistic only bettered by Dortmund – on their way to securing top-flight football for another season.

Survival was confirmed last weekend despite losing 2-1 against Hoffenheim, the bottom three remaining seven points below them with only six available.

Saturday’s visit of Bayern – who continue to be without Holger Badstuber and Arjen Robben – provides the perfect chance to celebrate their success, however the visitors have a stunning record against newly promoted sides, so three points for the hosts may be unlikely.

Bayern have not lost in 24 matches against clubs ascending to the Bundesliga – a run that stretches back to August 2010 – scoring 80 goals, and conceding just 11. 

But Ingolstadt assistant Michael Henke hopes to end that run and upset the leaders with a famous victory.

“We showed in the last match [that finished 2-0 to Bayern], what our idea is and this won’t change much,” assistant coach Michel Henke told Ingolstadt’s official website. 

“I don’t think being exclusively defensive against Bayern is a good idea. We play at home and we are looking forward to the match and being offensive. 

“In the last match we have shown a good performance, even though we didn’t score the deserved goal. 

“If you face an opponent like this, your only chance is to play with courage and to play cheeky. It is always possible that a team like this puts you under much pressure. But for our fans we want to deliver a good end of the season.”

Ingolstadt – who will bid farewell to Hasenhuttl at the end of the campaign after he opted not to renew his contract – have Robert Bauer and Romain Bregerie sidelined through suspension for the clash, while Danilo Soares is ruled out with a toe injury.

Atletico's Cerezo hits back at Vidal 'ugly' swipe

The Chilean claimed that his side were far superior and deserved to win the Champions League semi-final, words that did not go down well with the Colchoneros chief

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has hit back at Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal after he described their football as “ugly”.

Diego Simeone’s side reached their second Champions League final in three seasons on Tuesday after an away-goals win over Bayern following their 2-1 defeat at the Allianz Arena.

Vidal was critical of Atletico’s style of play after the match, claiming they did not deserve to progress by way of adopting a defensive approach.

But Cerezo believes half the continent is rooting for Atletico to triumph this season and suggested Vidal is simply envious of their chance to contest the final in Milan.

“Our football is ugly? It’s fantastic, and we play to win. We’re in an enviable situation,” he told Radio Marca.

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“A lot of people have congratulated me. Now more than half of Europe is Atletico Madrid!

“You have to congratulate the team, the players, the coaches and the fans. And you have to give thanks for this win which takes us to the final.”

He added: “We got past PSV, Barcelona and Bayern. Whoever we face now, we’ll give the same.

“The players are very well prepared and have a terrible excitement. We had the belief we could get to Milan and we did. We’re still believing in La Liga and we’re up there.

“I always say that the Champions League is possible for us. It would be our first and it would end a fantastic season.”

Robben: Give Memphis time to succeed at Man Utd

The Bayern Munich winger insists that his international colleague has all the attributes required to be a major hit in the Premier League, and says fans must be patient

Memphis Depay will be a success at Manchester United if he is given time at Old Trafford, according to his Netherlands team-mate Arjen Robben.

The 22-year-old has endured a difficult maiden season in the Premier League since joining the club from PSV Eindhoven last summer, scoring just two goals in 27 Premier League appearances.

Robben, though, believes that Memphis has the ability to make a success of his move to England, and has called on fans to be patient.

“He’s a very talented player, but you can’t underestimate how big a step it is up to the Premier League, and especially to a big club like Man United,” he said, speaking to Match of the Day magazine.

“He’s still very young – you have to give him some time. The talent is there – he’s got everything that he needs to be a success in England.”

Robben knows what it takes to succeed in the Premier League, having twice won the trophy while at Chelsea, in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Pity we could not reward Guardiola for his three years, says Bayern captain Lahm

The Germany international felt that the former Barcelona manager deserved a winners’ medal for his three years of work, while Thomas Muller felt their exit was unjust

Philipp Lahm has expressed his frustration at Bayern Munich’s failure to provide Pep Guardiola with the Champions League trophy during his three seasons at Allianz Arena.

Bayern’s away-goals exit to Atletico Madrid – Tuesday’s 2-1 second-leg win saw the tie finish level at 2-2 on aggregate – means the Bundesliga leaders have now crashed out at the semi-final stage in each of the head coach’s three campaigns at the helm.

Bayern captain Lahm has rued his side’s elimination, and admits that he is disappointed at the club’s failure to reward the former Barcelona manager for his service with a winners’ medal.

“It’s a pity we have not rewarded ourselves and the coach for the last three years,” said the 32-year-old.

“Atletico punished us on the break. We tried everything. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. 

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“It’s bitter to be knocked out after a game like that, but we can still finish the season celebrating.” 

Forward Thomas Muller, who had a penalty saved by Jan Oblak with the tie level at 1-1, insists Bayern’s elimination was undeserved, claiming that the club did more right than they did wrong.

“Football can be extreme at times,” he said.

“Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. I have rarely witnessed something like this. It’s quite a setback and of course I’m disappointed because I didn’t score from the penalty.”

Bayern – five points clear with two games to go – now turn their attention to wrapping up the Bundesliga title, while they also face title rivals Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final prior to Guardiola joining Manchester City.