Bayern snatches Cup thriller from 'unlucky' Jose

Jose Mourinho insisted he was 'unlucky' after 10-man Chelsea lost 5-4 on penalties to Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich in Friday's UEFA Super Cup final in Prague.

European champion Bayern needed a 121st-minute equalizer from Spain's Javi Martinez to take the game to penalties, after it finished 2-2 in extra time, as the Bavarians avenged their 2012 Champions League final defeat at the hands of Chelsea in Munich.

When Chelsea replacement Romelu Lukaku missed the 10th spot kick after the previous nine successful attempts, it meant Bayern finally lifted the Super Cup at the fourth attempt and leave Chelsea boss Mourinho disgruntled.

"When Martinez scored the goal, I felt it was undeserved. The best team lost, but that is football, no problem," said the 50-year-old.

Having returned for his second stint at Stamford Bridge in June after coaching Real Madrid, Mourinho slammed Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson for the 85th-minute dismissal of Chelsea midfielder Ramires for a second yellow card.

"There is a passion for football and if you are in love with the game, you don't kill a final with a second yellow card like this," said Mourinho.

"For me, yes, (the player should not have been punished) because there were many other yellow cards during the match which the referee didn't give."

But the self-appointed "Special One" insisted he is no stranger to playing with 10 men in major competitions and bemoaned his misfortune.

"This is nothing new for me, the last time I was at Chelsea we played a Champions League semifinal two or three times against Barcelona with 10 men," said Mourinho.

"I went to (coach) Inter Milan and played one hour of a Champions League semifinal with 10 men against Barcelona.

"I go to Real Madrid, I played again a Champions League semifinal with 10 men, I come back to Chelsea and I play a Super Cup final with 10 men.

"You all should analyze the games and draw your conclusions - I am unlucky."

Having enjoyed his eighth win over Mourinho in their 16th duel on the sidelines, ex-Barcelona coach Guardiola praised his predecessor, Jupp Heynckes, who steered Bayern to the treble of European, cup and league titles last season.

"I want to thank Jupp Heynckes for the chance to play here in this final, it's down to him that we are here," said Guardiola.

"It was a super, super, super effort to take the game to penalties, we are very happy, but one second changed everything," said the Spaniard, after Bayern had 37 goal attempts compared to Chelsea's 14.

"For me, the team played unbelievably well, we had more than 30 chances and I have seen how important it was for them, they won everything last season and they want more. I am really happy for them."

Guardiola disagreed with Mourinho's insistence that the best team lost in Prague.

"I believe the best team won, we creating a huge amount of goal opportunities," said the Bayern boss.

"Chelsea have so much experience with the likes of (Petr) Cech, (Frank) Lampard, (John) Terry and (Ashley) Cole, they had their chances, but we deserved the win."

Guardiola and Mourinho played down their rivalry.

"I have great respect for him as a coach and he knows that," said Guardiola of Mourinho.

(China Daily 09/01/2013 page7)