UEFA Champions League semi-final defeated Munich's "Bayern" coach Josep Guardiola admitted after the second leg match that Barcelona's team leader and his former pupil Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer of all time.
Catalan-trained "Bayern" defended their honor, managing to defeat "Barca" 3:2 in the second leg match, but Guardiola admitted that everything was already over after the first match.
"I am pleased with the performance of my team, but we needed such a game at 'Camp Nou.' I wanted us to play better, I wanted to have all the strongest players. I congratulate my players, I congratulate the opponents and I hope they will win the Champions League in June. I am glad that L. Messi has returned. He is wonderful and finally returned to the form he showed when I coached him. We must be happy to live at a time when he plays because L. Messi is the greatest footballer of all time," Guardiola said.
Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said after the match that his team made too many mistakes but was happy to secure a spot in the final.
"In the first half, we controlled the game, but after the break, we made too many mistakes. However, the opponents were tired, they were very difficult to beat and there was a big difference.
We let the opponents attack, so we took some risks. 'Bayern' played tough football, they really wanted to prove that they could beat us. Nevertheless, I can only praise my team, which achieved the goal of playing in the final. We just have to win it," Enrique said after the match.
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