Guardiola picks up pieces after Real ‘debacle’

Pep Guardiola has been left picking up the pieces amidst the fall-out from Bayern Munich’s historic 4-0 hammering at home to Real Madrid which dethroned the Champions League holders. ‘We need to think if this is the best system for the players. I made a mistake with the tactics, the trainer wasn’t good on Wednesday. We played badly, that’s my responsibility. I made a mistake with our tactics. We are at the highest level in Europe where such errors are punished,’ said Guardiola, who is under contract until June 2016. Such talk can only come from a head coach who feels secure in his position, but that will change quickly should there be any challenge to Bayern’s position at the top of German football. Guardiola has the chance to redeem himself on May 17 when holders Bayern face arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium in the German Cup final. A further defeat, or a repeat of the 5-2 drubbing Dortmund handed Bayern in the 2012 final, would only confirm Guardiola’s poor first season by Bayern’s lofty standards. The Spaniard has admitted he has struggled to get the most out of his team since they wrapped up the Bundesliga title with a record seven matches to spare last month.