Pep rules out return

BERLIN. Pep Guardiola does not believe he will return to coach Bayern Munich after the Bundesliga champions celebrated their third straight league title under his leadership with a 3-1 victory over already-relegated Hannover.
Mario Gotze hit a brace and Robert Lewandowski struck his 30th league goal of the season to cement his status as the German top flight’s leading scorer.
Guardiola will take charge of Bayern for the last time in next Saturday’s DFB-Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund and the coach, who will take over at Manchester City next season, ruled out a return to Bavaria. “I don’t think [I will be back],” Guardiola said. “Bayern need a new coach, to fight on another level.”wanted to hear ahead of the highly-anticipated Group D clash due tomorrow morning.
Spirits were high at the Allianz Arena despite heavy rain during the trophy presentation, with Guardiola and his players showered with beer as part of the celebrations.
Asked how being covered in beer felt, Guardiola said: “Cold! And it stinks. But it’s very good - a great tradition. In Barcelona this does not happen.

“I am me. The first [Bayern title], I was still somewhat shy. Today it was better. Defending the league title is outstanding and a great compliment to these players.
“I learned a lot, it was completely different than in Barcelona. A great experience. I’m a better coach, a little bit. It was very good for me, for my development.” Guardiola added that he wishes he could have won the Champions League with Bayern after being knocked out in the semi-finals in each of his three years in charge. “I could not win the Champions League for my players,” he said. “I’m sorry for the fans and especially for the players.
“From the bottom of my heart, I hope that Carlo [Ancelotti, his successor] can get to the final!”

Stuttgart relegated
Stuttgart’s relegation from the Bundesliga was confirmed after they lost 3-1 at Wolfsburg on the last day of the season, while a late winner secured safety for Werder Bremen.
Jurgen Kramny’s men needed Bremen to lose if they were to have any hope of survival, but Andre Schurrle’s two goals condemned the 2007 champions to second-tier football next season.
On-loan Chelsea defender Papy Djilobodji’s close-range strike in the 88th minute handed Bremen a 1-0 victory at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, who now face a two-legged play-off against 2.Bundesliga side Nurnberg to save their top-flight status. Champions Bayern Munich marked their last Bundesliga game with Pep Guardiola at the helm in style by beating bottom side Hannover, who were already relegated, 3-1 at home.

Mario Gotze hit a double after Robert Lewandowski had struck his 30th league goal of the season to finish 2015-16 as the Bundesliga’s top goalscorer. Borussia Dortmund needed a late free-kick by Marco Reus to preserve their season-long unbeaten home record, drawing 2-2 with Cologne at Signal Iduna Park.
Thomas Tuchel’s side led through Gonzalo Castro’s stunner, but Anthony Modeste and former Dortmund midfielder Milos Jojic were on target for the visitors before Reus’ deflected equaliser.
Bayer Leverkusen – already assured of an automatic place in next season’s Chamions League – recorded a 3-2 home win against Ingolstadt, Stefan Kiessling’s goal proving decisive as Roger Schmidt’s side came back from a goal down.

It will be the Champions League play-offs for Borussia Monchengladbach, who won 2-0 at Darmstadt to end their season ahead of fifth-placed Schalke, 4-1 winners at Hoffenheim in Andre Breitenreiter’s last game in charge.
Mainz and Hertha Berlin finished sixth and seventh respectively after their 0-0 draw, with both sides qualifying for the Europa League - the first time Mainz will be in the competition’s group stages after losing in the qualifiers twice.

Former winners

2016 - Bayern
2015 - Bayern
2014 - Bayern
2013 - Bayern
2012 - Dortmund
2011 - Dortmund
2010 - Bayern
2009 - Wolfsburg
2008 - Bayern
2007 - Stuttgart
2006 - Bayern
2005 - Bayern
2004 - Bremen
2003 - Bayern
2002 - Dortmund
2001 - Bayern
2000 - Bayern
1999 - Bayern
1998 - K’slautern
1997 - Bayern
1996 - Dortmund
1995 - Dortmund
1994 - Bayern
1993 - Bremen
1992 - Stuttgart
1991 - K’slautern
1990 - Bayern
1989 - Bayern
1988 - Bremen
1987 - Bayern
1986 - Bayern
1985 - Bayern
1984 - Stuttgart
1983 - Hamburg
1982 - Hamburg
1981 - Bayern
1980 - Bayern
1979 - Hamburg
1978 - Cologne