Bayern can win Club World Cup: Pep

IANS

Agadir (Morocco), Dec 18 (IANS) Pep Guardiola is confident of winning the Club World Cup with Bayern Munich for the first time after his side outclassed Guangzhou Evergrande 3-0 in the semi-finals.

Franck Ribery‘s left-footed shot, Mario Mandzukic‘s diving-header and Mario Goetze’s driving shot helped the reigning German and European champions ease past the Asian Champions League winner here Tuesday, reports Xinhua.

“We saw five games about the opponent. We know they are strong in the counter-attack. Marcello Lippi trained the team well,” the Spaniard said.

“But we played good in everything today. Players are always in right position. They played with focus. We didn’t receive some threat as we controlled the game. We are happy to play in the final on next Saturday. I hope for the first time in Germany we won this title.”

Marcello Lippi’s side, who saw off eight-time African champion Al Ahly 2-0 in the quarter-final, found it hard to move the ball effectively despite boosted by their attacking trio Elkeson, Dario Conca and Muriqui, as the German club dominated the rhyme with high-pressing defensive line.

Rong Hao, Chinese fullback, delivered a low shot wide off the near post after he met Gao Lin’s left-wing low cross, which was one of the few threats to Bayern.

Guardiola said he watched three to five video matches of his opponent in the last two days to know their level.

“Some of them, like the captain. Other players are like the left-full back, they once played in Europe,” said Guardiola, referring to Zheng Zhi and Sun Xiang.

On the gap between Chinese and European players, Guardiola said: “I don’t know the quality of Chinese leagues as I have no chance to watch their matches.”

“Guangzhou is a good team. Last season, Guangzhou just lost four games. I had a lot respect for them. The players like Conca, Muriqui and Elkeson are very good players.”

“But today we did the job and that’s why we deserved to be in the final.”

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