Guardiola deserves credit for Bayern success: Heynckes

Former Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes believes that the club's outgoing head coach Pep Guardiola deserves all the credit for his side's recent successes after they became the first team to win four Bundesliga titles in a row.

Heynckes guided Bayern to the first of those crowns before making way for Guardiola, and the Spaniard praised his predecessor's work after they secured the trophy with Saturday's win over Ingolstadt.

"I was very pleased when Guardiola dedicated the title to me. But I have only had a role in one of the four titles, so a quarter of the record. Pep won the other three and that is an extraordinary achievement," Heynckes was quoted as saying by Kicker magazine on Monday.

The 70-year-old felt flattered by Guardiola's comments, but believes he only played a small role in the Bavarians' newly set record.

"It should be Pep's party. Not just because of the fourth title, but also because it is his farewell."

"We have spoken a number of times over the past three years and they were always pleasant talks. We talked about football a lot. And Pep always enjoyed it when he could speak Spanish with me," the former Bayern coach said.

--IANS

ac/sam/dg