'It's difficult to accept' - Muller stunned as Bayern crash out of Champions League

By Sports Desk April 12, 2022

Thomas Muller says Bayern Munich's elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Villarreal is "difficult to accept".

The Bundesliga leaders crashed out in the quarter-finals for the second season running, as Samuel Chukwueze's late strike at the Allianz Arena snatched a 1-1 draw on the night - and a 2-1 aggregate victory for the Europa League holders.

Julian Nagelsmann's side, beaten 1-0 in the first leg, dominated the game as they sought a ninth win from 11 Champions League quarter-final ties.

But despite Robert Lewandowski drawing them level early in the second half, Bayern were unable to capitalise on their superiority as they could only find the back of the net once from 23 attempts at goal.

And the Bavarian giants were stunned two minutes from time, when Chukwueze rounded off a devastating counter-attack to send Villarreal through to a first semi-final in this competition in 16 years.

Muller knows Bayern only have themselves to blame for lacking a cutting edge.

"If you take just this game into account, without the first game, we should have gone through convincingly," he told Amazon Prime.

"It's difficult to accept this; I don't know what to say.

"It's bitter to concede after that performance. With the fans behind us, we pushed, pushed, pushed from the start. We have to do more in front of goal."

Head coach Nagelsmann said the nature of Bayern's exit left a sour taste in the mouth.

The head coach added: "The first leg was the key. Today, we did very well. It was one of our best games. But we should have made it 2-0 in the second half.

"It's all very bitter. We had very little space, there was always a danger of getting hit on the counter, and creating many chances against such a deep defence is hard. 

"If you don't win and get eliminated, that's just the way it is."

Villarreal will do battle with Liverpool or Benfica for a place in the final.

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    Winning coach Andrew Price welcomed the character shown by his team on this occasion to overturn their first leg loss, as players occupied unfamiliar position.

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    STATHS started more purposefully and created a few half chances in the early exchanges as the teams battled heavy underfoot conditions due to afternoon showers.

    The Bumper Hall-based team should have broken the deadlock approaching the 20th minute mark but Ajetai Marshall muffed his effort from close range.

    Calabar got into their rhythm and went close to finding the lead at the half-hour mark, but Rankin’s left-footed shot from a distance was parried by Jaheem Williams in goal for STATHS.

    It is often said if you fail to succeed try again, and Rankine did just that to put Calabar in front as he released an even more delightful strike from about 30 yards out that had Williams beaten all ends up.

    Calabar went close to doubling their advantage in 41st, but Williams got down well to his right on this occasion to steer Jayden Perry’s left-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box wide.

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    Dunoon Park 0, Eltham 0

    Ardenne High 0, Hydel High 8

    Ascot High 0, Jamaica College 5

    Excelsior High 15, Pembroke Hall 0

    Holy Trinity 0, St George’s College 5

    Camperdown 0, Vauxhall 0

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    Manchester 1, Belair 0

    Glenmuir 4, Old Harbour 0

    Ocho Rios 8, Ferncourt 1

    Anchovy 1, Green Island 2

    McGrath 0, Dinthill 0

    Maldon High 4, St James 1

    Irwin High 1, Cornwall College 4

    Green Pond 5, Herbert Morrison 2

    Grange Hill 0, Godfrey Stewart 1

    Mannings 6, Little London 0

    Muschett 0, Cedric Titus 13

    Spot Valley 0, William Knibb 0

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    Tacius Golding 0, Charlemont 3

    Cross Keys 1, DeCarteret College 5

    Newell 0, Lacovia 1

    B.B Coke 1, STETHS 3

    Claude McKay 0, Clarendon College 7

    Central 2, Edwin Allen 1

    Knockalva 0, Frome Tech 8

    Cambridge 1, Rusea’s High 3

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    Toronto got off to the better start as Kobe Franklin latched onto the end of Jonathan Osario's cross to shoot from a tight angle but saw his effort saved.

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