News Analysis: Guardiola's final

For all others, it might be a Champions League quarterfinal, Pep Guardiola though sees the second leg against FC Porto (1st leg 1-3) this Tuesday night more as a final. To be eliminated as early as the round of the last eight would be regarded as more than just an accident in Guardiola's life.

Since 2013, the Spaniard's face has not only stood for Bayern Munich's international ambitions as far as increasing marketing figures is concerned, but also for the dream to get to Europe's top with quality of football that is of the highest order. And a quality that should match or even top the one that led to Bayern winning the triple in 2013.

At present, things aren't going quite as well as expected for Guardiola and Bayern due to several reasons. The Spaniard's contract runs until 2016 and many expect him to leave the German club no later than in summer 2016. Pundits openly talk about Guardiola's desire to be in charge at a Premier League club in the near future. Manchester City would most likely be Guardiola's next club, assumed Paul Scholes, the former Manchester United star recently.

Fact is: Guardiola at present is going through a tough period with his German club - maybe one of the toughest of his career so far as his plans to win this season's Champions League are in great danger. One of the reasons for Bayern's problems is that up to seven key players are sidelined which lead to a dispute between him and team doctor Hans-Wilhelm-Mueller Wohlfahrt.

"I will never forget this period in my life," the 44-year-old said after Wohlfahrt quit last week. The doctor had worked 38 years for Bayern Munich.

CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who is Bayern's "strong man" after Uli Hoeness' jail sentence for tax evasion, does not leave out every possible opportunity to support Guardiola and convince the Spaniard to stick to Bayern longer than 2016.

No question, Guardiola and Bayern are at a crucial point in time. To fail against Porto would lead to more critical questions. Some British newspapers feel Guardiola has trained his big squad to breaking point. And: Is Guardiola unable to be a cool, calm and collected leader in tight situations because he is too emotional? And: Does he have an alternative plan for Bayern in terms of tactics?

Hiring Guardiola was regarded as a coup for Bayern. The former Barcelona coach was seen as a coaching genius, maybe the best of his kind after his success in Catalonia. In 2014 - after Bayern had lost the Champions League semifinal to Real Madrid so disastrously (5-1 on aggregate) - Guardiola thought of the defeat as one of his darkest hours. So to be dumped out of football's biggest club competition by an "underdog" like Porto would be no less painful.

In 2014, Bayern won the cup and league double - but missed out on the Champions League glory. The same could happen again in 2015. This time would not be seen as a newcomer's bad luck but as a bad job as Bayern's current squad is seen as the best the club has ever had.

"We need to do a great job against Porto, we need to be near our optimum," said Guardiola who hopes that Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm (both influenza) and Franck Ribery (ankle problems) might report back for duty for their re-match against the 27-time Portuguese champion.

After Bayern's defeat in the first leg and the resignation of the nationally renowned team doctor, German media discussed "Bayern's chaos" and a crisis-management lacking sensitivity.

After Bayern's latest league game (2-0 against TSG Hoffenheim), Guardiola assembled his squad in the locker room (club boss Rummenigge listened quietly) and held a rousing speech. Guardiola pointed out the importance of the team's determination and will-power.

"These players are my heroes as they play every three days. People can't imagine how difficult it is to play a Champions League game, then the Bundesliga and a Champions League once again," Guardiola said.

The Spaniard's intension to strengthen his players' fighting and team spirits was obvious.

"We are positive, we have a game at home - and we know what we have to do," said defender Jerome Boateng. Endi