Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes said he has never seen the club play better, despite their exit from the Champions League in the semif...
Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes said he has never seen the club play better, despite their exit from the Champions League in the semifinals on Tuesday night.
A 2-2 draw at Real Madrid left them one goal short on aggregate after last week's home defeat, but Heynckes said he told his players they should be proud of their performance.
"Of course, we are all very disappointed because the team played exceptionally tonight," Heynckes told German broadcaster Zdf. "I've just told the lads that I've never seen a Bayern team play as well as they did tonight in the Bernabeu.
"But at the highest level you cannot afford to make the mistakes that we did in the first leg and again tonight immediately after the break. These mistakes will be ruthlessly punished and then it's no wonder that you end up leaving the pitch as losers."
Heynckes also gave credit to Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who set a record for a Champions League knockout stage match by making eight saves.
"Normally when you score twice at the Bernabeu against such a good side it means something, but we had numerous other chances to score," the Bayern coach said. "Navas put in an exceptional performance especially towards the end of the game. He was the best Madrid player."
Heynckes blamed Bayern's elimanation on one mistake in each of the two legs against Real Madrid.
Goalkeeper Sven Ulreich's howler early in the second half allowed Karim Benzema to score Madrid's decisive goal, after another defensive miscue from Rafinha also allowed the Spanish side to score in the first leg.
"We didn't deserve to go out, because over the two legs we were the better team, but as I just said, you cannot afford to make the mistakes that we made at home in Munich and again today," Heynckes said. "These were two mistakes and it happens, it's a shame. Today's game was a great advert for football in general, because Madrid is a top team too."
Bayern have already secured the Bundesliga title and will now turn their focus to the DFB Pokal final on May 19 against Eintracht Frankfurt, who are managed by Niko Kovac, the man who will become Heynckes' successor next season.
"We have had a great season and the players showed again that they never give up, that we believe in ourselves and have faith in each other," Heynckes said. "It's just a shame that we didn't get the result to take us into the final."
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