Source: Eurosport
Klinsmann fails to inspire miracle
Jurgen Klinsmann claimed Bayern Munich had believed they could perform "a little miracle" and knock Barcelona out of the Champions League.Bayern were beaten 4-0 in Spain last week and Klinsmann had claimed on the eve of the game that it was "practically impossible" to recover from such a deficit, but he sensed history in the making in the build-up to Tuesday night's 1-1 draw, which saw Barcelona qualify for the semi-final 5-1 on aggregate."Yes, we had a small hope, even if we did not say so," he said."We had a meeting three hours before kick-off and we said that we can dream if we approach the game well and give it everything."There have been crazy stories in football and when we went 1-0 up there was a bit of hope."But after they made it 1-1, it was over."Bayern made a bright start and almost went ahead after six minutes when Jose Ernesto Sosa set up Luca Toni, who failed to make a good enough contact with a free header from eight yards out."Had that gone in, and the crowd got behind us, then there would have been the right atmosphere to create a little miracle," said Klinsmann."We had set our sights as high as possible and we did a lot, but we have been knocked out by a team who are clearly better."They are the best club in world football at the moment and we have seen that we have a lot of work to do if we are to go further next year."Barcelona were led out by Pep Guardiola's right-hand man Tito Vilanova due to the head coach's suspension following his red card in the first leg.Guardiola will be back in charge for the semi-final against Chelsea and Vilanova does not expect that to be an easy tie."I don't think we had any preference between Liverpool or Chelsea," he said."Maybe Chelsea are more attacking, but Liverpool are very disciplined in defence. Either way, we have a tough opponent and we have got to accept that it is Chelsea and not Liverpool."Liverpool would not have been any easier, but Chelsea is hard enough."Barcelona's astonishing season could see them win three titles this year.They are in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey, are close to clinching the Spanish championship and, for many, they are the favourites for Champions League glory.But Vilanova insists that they have not yet achieved anything yet."We have got to keep on working," he said. "I don't think we can say we have reached our goals for the season just yet."We have three titles up for grabs and we have now got to get them."[LNB]
