Guardiola: We can still improve

Pep Guardiola watched his Bayern Munich side beat Roma 7-1 with a breathtaking display of attacking football – and then demanded they improve.

The German champions scored five first-half goals to blow away their hosts, second in Serie A. The Italians simply had no answer to the likes of Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski and in particular Arjen Robben, who scored twice and gave his former Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole a torrid time in the first half before the left-back was replaced at half-time.

 “Roma always play well, but we were very aggressive, we made good decisions and we opened up the space we needed,” Guardiola said on the Bayern website. “But there are still things we can do better.”

The coach prepared us very well, showing us exactly where Roma’s weaknesses lay, and that’s how it all came about.

Robben agreed, adding: “Huge credit to the team, and the coaching staff who set us up so well. Leading 5-0 at half-time in Rome is just incredible! It’s an evening you simply have to enjoy because it was a superb performance. But we have to keep both feet on the ground. It’s still early in the season. It may sound a little dumb, but there are still areas where we can improve.”

Muller, who scored Bayern’s fifth from the penalty spot, was content to revel in the result, though. He said: “It was obviously an excellent first half from us. We were aggressive up front, we kept it tight at the back and made the most of the space available.

“The coach prepared us very well, showing us exactly where Roma’s weaknesses lay, and that’s how it all came about. We knew exactly what we had to do, and obviously we also have superb individual class up front with the ability to combine to perfection.”

Bayern celebrated their win with a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday morning. According to the club’s website, Pope Francis told the club delegation they had played “a wonderful game” and admitted his “surprise” at the margin of victory.

The win put Bayern five points clear at the top of Champions’ League Group E, with three wins from their first three games. They host Roma in their next match in the pool.

Source:FIFA

M.D