Agadir (Morocco), Dec 18 (IANS) World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi said Bayern Munich were above all the other teams at Club World Cup after his side Guangzhou Evergrande were outclassed 0-3 in the semi-final.
Franck Ribery’s left-footed shot, Mario Mandzukic’s diving header and Mario Goetze’s driving shot helped the reigning German and European champions ease past the Asian Champions League winners here Tuesday night, reports Xinhua.
“Bayern is no doubt the best team in the tournament. When they play against other teams, they can always dominate the games with overwhelming advantages. There is a big difference,” said the 65-year-old Italian.
“We didn’t attack as much as we want to. We didn’t pose threat to them. Since the start of the game, Bayern had already controlled the match. It’s a pity that Muriqui failed to seize the chance in the first half.”
Guangzhou, the first-ever Chinese club appearing in this tournament, will now have to fight for the third place against the loser of the other semi-final between Raja Casablanca and Atletico Mineiro.
Though seeing off eight-time African champion Al Ahly 2-0 in the quarter-final, Chinese club found it hard to move the ball effectively despite boosted by their attacking trio Elkeson, Dario Conca and Muriqui, as the German club dominated the rhyme with high-pressing defensive line.
Lippi, the first and the only coach to win both European and Asian Champions Leagues, said fatigue affect his players’ levels.
“We started this season since the January. It’s nearly one-whole-year work now. Some Chinese players have played nearly 70 matches so far.”
“If today it were the team who won the Asian Champion one month ago, I’m sure we can play better. But of course, we cannot beat Bayern. Because there is a huge difference.”
Though the defeat is hash, the semi-final entry is the best-ever result for Chinese professional league in world stage after Guangzhou became the first club from the country to win the Asian Champions League in November.
Lippi, standing in the technical area in the first 45 minutes, returned to his seat in the second half as he saw noting left he could do to change the momentum of the lop-sided match.
“I cannot tell my players what else they can do. There is a big difference between the teams.”
When asked how long Guangzhou can narrow the gap between them and Bayern, Lippi said “many, many years”.