Bayern Munich boss, Niko Kovac says his side now have to concentrate on winning a German league and cup double after their Uefa Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds went through with a 3-1 win in the last-16 tie at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Wednesday after the first leg at Anfield had finished goalless.
Sadio Mane scored a superb opening goal for Liverpool only for Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip to turn the ball into his own net as the teams reached half-time locked at 1-1.
Virgil van Dijk headed Liverpool into a deserved lead in the 69th minute before Mane ended any hopes of a Bayern fightback with a late far-post header from Mo Salah’s cross.
Niko Kovač: "I have to congratulate Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool. They were clearly the better side over the 2 games" pic.twitter.com/HwrtARYoZG
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) March 13, 2019
“I want to congratulate Liverpool,” said a glum-faced Kovac. “They were the better team over the two legs, we deserved to lose.
“They attacked us high up, were compact and made it hard for us. We also didn’t have our best day,” added the Bayern Munich manager.
“We still have two titles to focus on. Our goal now is to win them both, we have to tick off the Champions League now and go again next year.”
Bayern Vs Liverpool Goals.#LIVBAY#Liverpool #UCL pic.twitter.com/YMbOLRYoPv
— Football_Highlights (@Footbal_Goals9) March 13, 2019
This is the first time since 2011 that Bayern have failed to make the quarter-finals in Europe’s top club competition.
It has been a bleak last 16 for Germany whose three representatives all lost to English opposition to leave no Bundesliga club in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2006.
Borussia Dortmund lost 4-0 over two legs to Tottenham Hotspur while Schalke was humiliated 10-2 on aggregate by Manchester City.
Niko Kovac: "We had a strong opponent and we have to congratulate Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp. They were better in these two matches and we deserved to lose. Liverpool is a top team in Europe and they showed us our limits."#LFC #BAYLIV
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) March 13, 2019
“We have the right to be bitterly disappointed, it’s tough not being part of the Champions League any more, we have to be positive,” Kovac said.
Bayern went above Dortmund and back to the top of the Bundesliga last weekend for the first time since September.
“We have a good series in the Bundesliga and we have to focus on that,” Kovac said.
Probably game over. (84')#UCL #FCBLFC 1-[3] pic.twitter.com/QIvvXIkuKq
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) March 13, 2019
Goal mane #LiverpoolFC #LIVBAY #BAYLIV Liverpool 3 Bayern 1 pic.twitter.com/p6dpfdISad
— mumblesports (@mumblesports) March 13, 2019
Goal Mane #mane #Liverpool #Liverpoolbayern 1st goal pic.twitter.com/0qsYZrwsEs
— اهلاوي DJ BALOOSHI (@Dj_RockyBaloch) March 13, 2019
VIRGIL VAN DIJK! 🔥
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 13, 2019
His header puts Liverpool ahead and Bayern now need 2 goals in order to move on.
(🎥 via @brlive)pic.twitter.com/F1h1gf0FcA