By Stefan Coerts
Gianluigi Buffon has admitted that Bayern Munich were simply too strong for Juventus in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The Serie A champions were beaten 2-0 at the Juventus Stadium on Wednesday after previously losing the first leg 2-0 and Buffon feels the Bundesliga giants were on another tier of quality.
“I thought we could have played at their same level tonight but Bayern proved I was wrong. I think they can win the Champions League,” Buffon was quoted as saying on the official Uefa website.
“The dream is over tonight. We tried to play our game, we have no regrets, we did the best we could. Unfortunately it was not enough because we faced a team that, from every point of view, are better than us.
“They were in better shape, they played better, they have more experience – they’re just better than us. We have to improve and grow up, the big difference between them and us is experience: they have played together for a few years and went far in Europe in the last few seasons.
“I knew they were strong but, to be honest, I did not think they were that strong. I was even more impressed tonight [Wednesday] than in Munich. Because in the first leg we did not give our all, but tonight we did; still, there was nothing we could do.”
Juventus resume domestic action on Monday when they travel to Lazio.
