Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has leaped to the defence of his players following their penalty-shootout defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals.
The Bundesliga leaders missed all of their penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time, but the Spaniard insists that it was his team's best performance against Dortmund since he took charge.
Guardiola was also adamant that the defeat has not disheartened his players ahead of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.
"I am proud of my team. In fact, I have never been this proud of my players," he told Sky Sports News. "We played very well. It was the best game we have played against Dortmund since I arrived at Bayern.
"This is nothing to be ashamed of. We lost a football match. To be ashamed would need something worse. This does not mean anything for the Barcelona game. That is a new match and a new competition."
Bayern took the lead through Robert Lewandowski in the first half, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang levelled the match in the second period to force extra time and penalties.
Mark Langshaw
