Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola eyes Barca scalp

Pep Guardiola Bayern Munich Champions League

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Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has said former club Barcelona was a big part of his career, but he is vowing to guide his current club to a Champions League semi-final first-leg win at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

The 44-year-old Spanish tactician enjoyed a successful playing career with the Catalan giants before guiding the club to 14 titles, including two Champions League crowns, in a four-year managerial reign.

However, Guardiola will return to the Nou Camp with his current club looking to deny Barca and his former team-mate, coach Luis Enrique, a place in this season’s final.

He is set to receive a great reception from the Barca fans but Guardiola is fully focused on picking up a victory for the recently-crowned German Bundesliga champions to take back to the Allianz Arena for the second leg.

He said: “I am here not as a tribute, but I’m here to do my job, with Bayern Munich to reach the final.

“Barcelona was the most important part in my life. Barcelona was everything, but I’m here to win.”

Guardiola, who should have striker Robert Lewandowski available thanks to a protective mask for his injured jaw and cheekbone, will be without key men Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, David Alaba and Sebastian Rode.

He has vowed to attack Barcelona because “it’s almost impossible to play defensively against Barcelona” and their talisman Lionel Messi.

Guardiola added: “We have to attack. We need to score in Barcelona.”

Bayern are 4.75 to win the first leg, while Barca are 1.73 and the draw is 3.80.

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