Guardiola lifts German Cup in 'toughest year'

Spanish coach leads Bayern to fourth title after Dortmund rout

BERLIN: Bayern Munich's Pep Guardiola says he has endured the toughest year of his coaching career, despite winning his fourth title this season by lifting the German Cup.

Arjen Robben and Thomas Mueller scored extra-time goals as Bayern won the German Cup with a 2-0 victory over rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

Guardiola finishes his first season in charge of Bayern with four trophies having already won the Bundesliga title, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

Having arrived in Bavaria with a glowing reputation after winning 14 titles in four seasons at Barcelona, Guardiola says the current campaign has been tough.

"It's my fifth year as a coach and it's been the hardest year of my career," said Guardiola.

"My German isn't so good and coming in after Jupp Heynckes, former club coach, wasn't easy for me.

"Each trainer has his own ideas and I know the players were thinking, 'why do we have to make changes?'"

Bayern lifted the German Cup for a record 17th time to claim the domestic league and cup double and the Champions League was the only title to elude them this season.

But Guardiola admitted he deserved criticism from the German media in the wake of their 4-0 home drubbing by Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, second-leg, and says Bayern must improve.

"The criticism was quite justified, I did things I shouldn't have done," said Guardiola.

"I made mistakes in our playing style and tactics against Real, but things like that can happen in big games against big clubs.

"Now I know a bit more about German football, you have to win everything here, but even when you do, it's still not enough. I am happy, but we have to improve."

Having also scored the late winner in the 2013 Champions League final against Borussia at Wembley, Netherlands winger Robben again broke Dortmund hearts before Mueller's late second.

"We were finished at the end," admitted Dortmund's coach Jurgen Klopp who was left fuming after television replays showed a second-half Mats Hummels header crossed the goal-line, but was not given.

"We scored a goal, which wasn't given. It was clearly visible even without goal-line technology.”