Pep Guardiola: I’ll be judged at Bayern on whether I win Champions League

Pep Guardiola accepts his three-year spell as Bayern Munich manager will be judged on whether his team can win the Champions League before he leaves this summer.

The Spaniard, whose side are away to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tonight, is set to take over at Manchester City for next season.

Despite dominating the Bundesliga, with Guardiola’s men on course to collect a third straight domestic title, success in Europe’s elite club competition has so far proved illusive.

The German giants are aiming to avoid what would be elimination to a Spanish team at the same stage for three campaigns in a row.

Guardiola understands the demands of the job, which saw predecessor Jupp Heynckes deliver the 2013 Champions League with victory over Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

“In three years we have got to three semi-finals, but I know that people say if I don’t win the Champions League my work won’t be complete,” Guardiola said in Madrid last night.

“But I’ve been very lucky to have experienced what I have in Germany. I think I am a better coach, a better person, more relaxed.”

Guardiola added: “In football, you have to adapt and we will adapt to get the best result we can.

“We know all the teams are difficult and Atletico are no exception.

“You can compare them to Barca and Madrid — when they play against the big European clubs, they can confound the favourites.

“It will be a great game, and we will do all we can to get to the final.”

Guardiola has been impressed with Diego Simeone’s well-drilled side, who are currently second in La Liga, only trailing Barcelona on their head-to-head record.

“It has been five years since I was involved against them, but from what I have seen and what people say, they defend well, though that’s not all they do,” said Guardiola, who could welcome defender Jerome Boateng back after three months out with a groin problem.

“They’re extremely well organised, they’ve got a good structure defensively, they close space, they have a great counterattack. They have been fighting for the league title for the last three or four seasons as well as in Europe, so you have to do almost everything very well against them.”

For his part, Simeone brushed off the supposed clash of styles tonight.

“Obviously we have a coach and players with different characteristics (from Bayern), but in wars, it isn’t the side with the most soldiers that wins, rather the side that uses its soldiers better,” he said.

“They are in the same position as us — and to win the league, you have to win games. I want my side to win, nothing more.”

Stefan Savic is vying with Jose Gimenez and Lucas Hernandez to replace the injured Diego Godin in central defence, while winger Yannick Carrasco is expected to start. The Belgian is being treated carefully due to a sore ankle, with Augusto Fernandez on standby.