Pep Guardiola has fallen victim to his own brilliance… Bayern Munich's third-straight Champions League semi-final exit means he failed to deliver absolutely everything

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It is over, then. Pep Guardiola came to Munich to win the treble, and he will leave having suffered a treble nightmare in the Champions League.

For the third time in Guardiola's three seasons at the club, Bayern Munich have been knocked out of Europe at the penultimate hurdle. Each time, they have lost to Spanish opposition.

Unlike the last two years, Bayern did not capitulate. They gave everything on Tuesday evening, and dominated Atletico for much of the game. But it wasn't enough to save Pep's European dream.

Pep Guardiola's anguish was clear to see as his Bayern Munich side were dumped out of Europe on Tuesday

Guardiola could only watch from the sidelines as his side were knocked out on away goals by Atletico Madrid

For the third time in his three seasons at Bayern, they were dumped out of the Champions League semi-finals

Bayern's stars look for some joy at a free kick during the second-leg encounter at the Allianz Arena

'I gave my life for this team,' said Guardiola. 'I fought, and I tried my best. That is all.'

Amid all the disappointment in Munich, nobody would seriously accuse Guardiola of any less. Despite all the talk of being distracted by his plans for Manchester City, the 45-year-old has clearly given everything to Bayern in his final weeks.

Everything wasn't enough. 'It doesn't matter which team plays better; only the results count,' admitted Guardiola.

The result shows that Guardiola was once again outwitted by Spanish opposition. Chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was quick to criticise the referee, but the truth is that Bayern lost a tactical battle. They only lost it by a whisker, but they lost it.

Despite their relentlessness going forward, one defensive mistake was enough to knock Bayern out of the Champions League.

'It was ugly football against the most beautiful football in the world,' complained Arturo Vidal. 'They got the ball twice in two games, and scored both times.'

Antoine Griezmann (right) broke Bayern hearts with this strike to see Atletico go through on away goals

Griezmann celebrates scoring for Atletico with his team-mates during Tuesday's clash at the Allianz Arena

Bayern midfielder Arturo Vidal shows his frustration with referee Cueneyt Cakir during the 2-1 second-leg win

Philipp Lahm has admitted his regret that Bayern haven't won the Champions League under Guardiola

Those two goals rather summed up Guardiola's time at Bayern. Totally dominant over long periods, just a handful of weak moments have kept Pep's team from the biggest prize.

Guardiola won his first Bundesliga title in March, the earliest any team had ever become champions. He won the double in his first season, and may yet do so again. If Bayern wrap up the league on Saturday, it will be an unprecedented fourth title in a row.

He has also reached the semi-final of the Champions League in each of his three years at Bayern. Only Real Madrid have been equally as consistent over the same time frame.

Guardiola's three years at Bayern have been as dominant and thrilling as his possession-based style. They have also been equally susceptible to a well-timed sucker punch.

'It's bitter to be knocked out like that,' said Philipp Lahm, 'and it's a huge shame that we haven't rewarded ourselves and the coaching staff for a great three years.'

Guardiola is drenched in beer by his Bayern players as they celebrate winning the 2013-14 Bundesliga title

The Spaniard repeated the triumph again last season - as they won by 10 points from second-placed Wolfsburg

Lahm went on to speak of how Bayern could still win the double, and how even in the dressing room on Tuesday night, they were immediately pumping themselves up for the chance to wrap up the Bundesliga title this weekend.

He didn't sound too convincing. For now and for the rest of the season, all thoughts will be on what Bild's front page on Wednesday labelled 'Pep's most bitter defeat'.

'Pep has without doubt given so much to Bayern and German football,' wrote one columnist, 'Jupp Heynckes and Ottmar Hitzfeld are probably not better managers just because they managed to win the Champions League with Bayern.'

Pep Guardiola will not leave Bayern in disgrace. There is an enduring respect, if little love lost, for the Catalan in Munich.

Ultimately, though, the world's most coveted coach has fallen victim to his own all-encompassing brilliance. When you hire Pep Guardiola, only absolutely everything is enough. Absolutely everything is just what Pep Guardiola couldn't deliver.

The front cover of Bild on Wednesday includes the headline 'Pep's most bitter defeat' following Bayern's exit