German press mourns Pep Guardiola's 'sad' return to 'old home'

Berlin, May 7 (IANS): German media on Thursday were buzzing about Bayern Munich's 0-3 defeat against FC Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg match, focusing on the devastating return of the Spanish club's “prodigal son”, coach Josep Guardiola, to his former home, while also praising striker Lionel Messi's greatness.

Current Bayern coach Guardiola was a player and a coach at FC Barcelona having won 14 trophies in four glittering managerial years at the club from 2008 to 2012. He took over the reins of the German team in 2013, reports Efe.

The match was billed as the return of the much-loved Guardiola to his original home.

“Josep Guardiola defeated against FC Barcelona amid deep painful emotions.” Bild sports newspaper featured, underlining the “sad return” of the “prodigal son” to his play his old team in a match where Barcelona picked apart the weaknesses of Pep's new club, FC Bayern Munich.

Die Zeit newspaper said Bayern and Guardiola got a football lesson in Barcelona, while its online edition headlined, “So, Messi is better than Gotze.”

Kicker magazine led with, “Wednesday's game is more than a defeat,” stressing that Barcelona's 0-3 win over Bayern left the team in a state of shock.

“Bayern suffers a shock,” Sueddeutsche Zeitung similarly started, while Die Welt's headline was “Messi's gala and Neymar's goal,” mourning the bad result.

Die Welt analysed the “disaster,” noting that even “the strong” goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was unable to avoid what was a clear victory for Barcelona.