With his own Manchester City and his Catalan home club Barcelona being eliminated in the quarter finals, Guardiola looks to another former club for hope.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola met with the gathered media in Friday's pre-match press conference as normal business resumed in the Premier League. Unsurprisingly, despite the focus of the get together being on the game against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, the topic of the Champions League semi-finals arose.
No City, no Barça...Bayern then
Tuesday night saw his City side fight hard to get back into the tie but the three-goal lead that Liverpool brought to the Etihad always looked an uphill struggle, even more so when The Reds scored, as most expected they would. With his local side from Catalonia, FC Barcelona, also saying adios to the competition on the same night (in what was an incredibe turnaround) Guardiola's two favoured sides had gone.
His answer to who he'd be supporting therefore may not have been as obvious as before...but then it most certainly was.
"Neither we [Manchester City] nor Barcelona are in the semi-finals, so I will support Bayern, I hope they have the luck they deserve," Guardiola said about the club he managed before arriving in the Premier League.
Barça, City, Juve: league leaders missing semi
In addition to this, he was also keen to make the case that the Bundesliga side were the only one of the remaining sides leading their domestic leagues. He highlighted that the difference in points between his Man City and Liverpool was 17, and that there were 15 points between LaLiga champions-elect Barça and Real Madrid. Even wider was the gap (21) between Juventus and Roma in Serie A, he said, adding "in spite of all that, none are in the semifinals".
The Spanish coach that has lit up the Premier League with City's finesse and energy blowing most rivals away - a team who many still believe to be the best in Europe - congratulated Liverpool for their 5-1 aggregate victory but praised the reaction of his own players to the disappointing first leg.
"This season we have done better in the Champions League than last season."
chucksunited
84
His choice is 100% in order. At least some portion of his heart is still with Bayern though.
soccercrazy
77
Breaking: Pep Guardiola Has Announced His Real Name Is Pepperoni Guardiola!!! Just For Laughs, I Meant No Offense To Anyone..
juyadkoty
59
Does this come as a suppose. Comeon guys. Real was his number 1 tormentor for all his time at Barca n besides he is a Catalonia. Secondly, hw many times has Real stood in d way of Bayern a club which he managed and now that with all his spending at city, he bowed out in a very humiliating way despite of dreaming of a quadruple at a given stage. Truth is Bayern r d favorites in this tie given d 2 teams current form bt don't forget that few ppo wud have assumed it wud get this far give its domestic problems.
Vadbeilosz
52
I reckon that most people are already seeing Real Madrid in the final bcos they have been having it good over Bayern in recent years but they forgot that Bayern has a coach who have a great temperament for the uefa champions league. Jupp Heynches inflicted a semifinal defeat on Real Madrid in 2012 in which the first leg was played in Munich. In 2013, he also played the first legs away from home in the quarter final against Juventus as well as the semi-final against Barcelona. He seems to be very comfortable on a first leg away from home which is the case here. The sentiment of being back to back champions is making many to tip madrid for this but I tell you without a shadow of doubt that Bayern Munich will prevail over Real Madrid over these 2 legs. Bayern is more defensively conscious under Jupp than either of Pep or Ancelloti and this will be a very key in deciding the outcome of the tie. Real Madrid may have to up its game against this Bayern side than it did against Juventus especially in the 2nd leg otherwise Bayern will have a smooth sail. It will be somehow tight, but technically i see Bayern going through contrary to many opinions here. It seems that in spite of an in form R onaldo, Real Madrid has finally overstretch its luck.
Jash_TheGreat_
49
come on pep...u know that Klopp and u worked together...isn't it obvious that he knows all ur strong tactics...only thing u lack is blowing how Klopp plays... he will forever be your counter...no need to bring up the league score diff between you and liverpool...man city is the beast in premier league Buh Klopp knows how to tame the beast.