Bayern players speechless after Barca thrashing
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Bayern Munich''s players had nothing to say in the dressing room after Wednesday''s 4-0 humbling by Barcelona in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Nou Camp, coach Juergen Klinsmann said.
The former German international also said he expected criticism after the defeat, which followed a 5-1 thrashing by VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday, and noted Bayern had a long way to go to compete with Europe''s elite.
"After the match it was very quiet in our dressing room and nothing was said," Klinsmann told reporters.
"We were taken apart in the first half by a team that is currently setting the standard in Europe ... Criticism for the coach is part of the job after two such bad results."
Barca overwhelmed the Bavarians with four first-half strikes, two from Lionel Messi, and one each from Samuel Eto''o and Thierry Henry, while Bayern rarely threatened the home side''s goal.
Klinsmann said his side had been utterly unable to compensate for the absence of central defenders Lucio and Daniel van Buyten, left back Philipp Lahm and striker Miroslav Klose.
"We wanted to give Barca a fight, throw ourselves into challenges and cramp them with a five-man midfield but we were not able to make it work," he said.
"It was clear in every part of the team that we just could not live with them."
Bayern midfielder Mark van Bommel, a former Barca player, said it could not have been any worse for the German side and they were lucky not to concede more.
"Perhaps if they only bring eight men to Munich then we have a chance," the Dutchman said.