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Bayern's double allows Pep Guardiola to exhale after suffocating first season Bayern's double allows Pep Guardiola to exhale after suffocating first season
(35 minutes later)
Don't read on if you still want to view the box set, but season one of Breaking Pep, a fish-out-of-water tale about a clever man trying to come up with the winning formula in an alien world of unreliable underlings and a grilled meats-empire boss who hides a dark secret, finished with a big cliffhanger on Saturday night: THE. MOLE. IS. STILL. OUT. THERE. Don't read on if you still want to view the box set, but season one of Breaking Pep, a fish-out-of-water tale about a clever man trying to come up with the winning formula in an alien world of unreliable underlings and a grilled meats-empire boss who hides a dark secret, finished with a big cliffhanger on Saturday night: THE. MOLE. IS. STILL. OUT. THERE.
Guardiola had first embarked on a hunt for the informer inside his own ranks in November, when Bild had revealed Bayern Munich's long-ball tactics for the away game at Dortmund before kick-off. After lying low for six months, the spy piped up again last week to tell the newspaper that the Bavarians would be playing with three at the back in the DFB Cup final in Berlin, against the same opposition. "It's not good that it was in the paper, we have to control that," said the Catalan, a little miffed. But, in truth, the leak had proved more of an annoyance than a serious problem. Knowing his opposite number's strategy in advance did not help Jürgen Klopp to come up with effective counter-measures. Bayern's trio at the back, a five-man line without the ball, soaked up the pressure and proved solid enough to absorb the early loss of their captain, Philipp Lahm with a kick to the shin. It could even accommodate Rafinha as a left wing-back. "When you're being told you don't have a plan B for weeks, then you want to show everyone that you do have one," the Dortmund coach said after the 2-0 defeat, his words dripping with displeasure. It was a compliment, of course, but not quite as big as that of the Bayern CEO, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who boldly declared that Guardiola's "genius" tactics had been employed "for the first time in Germany". (Louis van Gaal and Jürgen Klinsmann would beg to differ, along with about 300 other Bundesliga coaches). Guardiola had first embarked on a hunt for the informer inside his own ranks in November, when Bild had revealed Bayern Munich's long-ball tactics for the away game at Dortmund before kick-off. After lying low for six months, the spy piped up again last week to tell the newspaper that the Bavarians would be playing with three at the back in the DFB Cup final in Berlin, against the same opposition. "It's not good that it was in the paper, we have to control that," said the Catalan, a little miffed. But, in truth, the leak had proved more of an annoyance than a serious problem.
Knowing his opposite number's strategy in advance did not help Jürgen Klopp to come up with effective counter-measures. Bayern's trio at the back, a five-man line without the ball, soaked up the pressure and proved solid enough to absorb the early loss of their captain, Philipp Lahm with a kick to the shin. It could even accommodate Rafinha as a left wing-back. "When you're being told you don't have a plan B for weeks, then you want to show everyone that you do have one," the Dortmund coach said after the 2-0 defeat, his words dripping with displeasure. It was a compliment, of course, but not quite as big as that of the Bayern chief executive, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who boldly declared that Guardiola's "genius" tactics had been employed "for the first time in Germany". (Louis van Gaal and Jürgen Klinsmann would beg to differ, along with about 300 other Bundesliga coaches).
The 2-0 result itself had been slightly fortunate – more of which later – and it hadn't been a game for purists. But in finding another way to win, Guardiola managed to find the biggest win of his Bayern tenure. It was obvious that the final would determine the mood at the club over the next few months, the pressure to deliver had been enormous after the Real Madrid debacle. The coach had upped the stakes further by changing the system and leaving behind Mario Mandzukic, the powerful striker who was such a key component of the treble winners under Jupp Heynckes. Guardiola spoke of "sporting reasons" for leaving the Croatian behind in Munich but that was only half the story: "Mandzu" has been axed for good. The 27-year-old will not be seen in a Bayern shirt again.The 2-0 result itself had been slightly fortunate – more of which later – and it hadn't been a game for purists. But in finding another way to win, Guardiola managed to find the biggest win of his Bayern tenure. It was obvious that the final would determine the mood at the club over the next few months, the pressure to deliver had been enormous after the Real Madrid debacle. The coach had upped the stakes further by changing the system and leaving behind Mario Mandzukic, the powerful striker who was such a key component of the treble winners under Jupp Heynckes. Guardiola spoke of "sporting reasons" for leaving the Croatian behind in Munich but that was only half the story: "Mandzu" has been axed for good. The 27-year-old will not be seen in a Bayern shirt again.
That's what tends to happen to big centre-forwards in Guardiola's teams, one could argue, but football tactics have played almost no role in that decision. Mandzukic had already been left out of the squad for the league game at Gladbach in January for not training well after ignoring several warnings. Whether Robert Lewandowski's imminent arrival from Dortmund gave him the hump or not is hard to tell but his behaviour had become problematic in a dressing room full of players who all had to deal with reduced playing times this season. The final straw, according to Monday's edition of Bild, had come on the night of the 4-0 defeat by Madrid two weeks ago. In an emotional internal speech after the final whistle, Guardiola took full responsibility for the defeat and moved one or two players to tears. Mandzukic, however, was "smiling provocatively" throughout , having earlier made "dismissive gestures in training". Rummenigge implicitly confirmed this version of events in the German capital "It perhaps fits the situation of the last few weeks," he said about the striker's decision to join up with Croatia rather than to accompany the team over the weekend. According to Bild, he's already cleared his locker at Säbenerstrasse. He'll be perfect for Chelsea – at the least in the sense that he'll undoubtedly have plenty of bad things to say about Guardiola in the coming months. That's what tends to happen to big centre-forwards in Guardiola's teams, one could argue, but football tactics have played almost no role in that decision. Mandzukic had already been left out of the squad for the league game at Gladbach in January for not training well after ignoring several warnings. Whether Robert Lewandowski's imminent arrival from Dortmund gave him the hump or not is hard to tell but his behaviour had become problematic in a dressing room full of players who all had to deal with reduced playing times this season. The final straw, according to Monday's edition of Bild, had come on the night of the 4-0 defeat by Madrid two weeks ago. In an emotional internal speech after the final whistle, Guardiola took full responsibility for the defeat and moved one or two players to tears. Mandzukic, however, was "smiling provocatively" throughout, having earlier made "dismissive gestures in training". Rummenigge implicitly confirmed this version of events in the German capital – "It perhaps fits the situation of the last few weeks," he said about the striker's decision to join up with Croatia rather than to accompany the team over the weekend. According to Bild, he's already cleared his locker at Säbenerstrasse. He'll be perfect for Chelsea – at the least in the sense that he'll undoubtedly have plenty of bad things to say about Guardiola in the coming months.
Most teams have at least one Mandzukic-type character in their squad. But they're only indulged as long as they produce performances that are in line with the size of their ego. Inside the team, Guardiola's hard stance on the forward was greeted with plenty of approval. It was seen as fair and perfectly appropriate after months and months of public declarations that stressed the paramount importance of team spirit and personal sacrifice.Most teams have at least one Mandzukic-type character in their squad. But they're only indulged as long as they produce performances that are in line with the size of their ego. Inside the team, Guardiola's hard stance on the forward was greeted with plenty of approval. It was seen as fair and perfectly appropriate after months and months of public declarations that stressed the paramount importance of team spirit and personal sacrifice.
The double win also ensured that Guardiola finished his "most difficult season as a coach" in a position of strength. The over-blown criticism of his tactics in the wake of the Champions League exit are forgotten. Toni Kroos, one his favourite players, toiled tirelessly in central midfield to belie the prejudice that he only ever floats through matches at 10 miles per hour. The board are much more likely to take a benign view on Kroos's (politically-complicated) wage demands, and they will now at least try more seriously to make him extend his contract beyond 2015. The double win also ensured that Guardiola finished his "most difficult season as a coach" in a position of strength. The overblown criticism of his tactics in the wake of the Champions League exit are forgotten. Toni Kroos, one his favourite players, toiled tirelessly in central midfield to belie the prejudice that he only ever floats through matches at 10 miles per hour. The board are much more likely to take a benign view on Kroos's (politically complicated) wage demands, and they will now at least try more seriously to make him extend his contract beyond 2015.
Javier Martínez had a great game in the centre of defence, too. The Spaniard had been seen as another victim of Guardiola's intransigence but persistent injury problems have played a bigger factor in his relatively scarce appearances than any fundamental creative differences with Pep. The opposite is true: a three-at-the-back with Martínez in the middle has been one of his biggest ideas for Bayern from the outset but Guardiola wanted to wait before making that drastic move. Part of his problem had been an inability to explain his ideas properly to his players in German, he admitted in Berlin recently, because they needed convincing that change was a good thing after the treble. "A manager always has to change things," he said. Winning the double in his first season in charge with, at times, scintillating football has given him the licence to be even less compromising going forward. Crucially, however, the last few days will also make for a more harmonious working environment on the football pitch. It's been a badly kept secret that Guardiola and Bayern's fabled team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt haven't always seen eye to eye over the course of the season. Things had come to a head, a number of papers revealed, when Thiago Alcantara was deemed fit to resume training by his own Spanish doctor ahead of the final while Müller-Wohlfahrt warned that the midfielders knee ligament might rupture again. That's exactly what happened on Thursday. Bayern could have done without that kind of vindication but Guardiola might well change his opinion of Müller-Wohlfahrt as a consequence. Both were seen hugging after the final whistle. Javier Martínez had a great game in the centre of defence, too. The Spaniard had been seen as another victim of Guardiola's intransigence but persistent injury problems have played a bigger factor in his relatively scarce appearances than any fundamental creative differences with Pep. The opposite is true: a three-at-the-back with Martínez in the middle has been one of his biggest ideas for Bayern from the outset but Guardiola wanted to wait before making that drastic move. Part of his problem had been an inability to explain his ideas properly to his players in German, he admitted in Berlin, because they needed convincing that change was a good thing after the treble. "A manager always has to change things," he said. Winning the double in his first season in charge with, at times, scintillating football has given him the licence to be even less compromising going forward. Crucially, however, the last few days will also make for a more harmonious working environment on the football pitch. It's been a badly kept secret that Guardiola and Bayern's fabled team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt haven't always seen eye to eye over the course of the season. Things had come to a head, a number of papers revealed, when Thiago Alcântara was deemed fit to resume training by his own Spanish doctor ahead of the final while Müller-Wohlfahrt warned that the midfielder's knee ligament might rupture again. That's exactly what happened on Thursday. Bayern could have done without that kind of vindication but Guardiola might well change his opinion of Müller-Wohlfahrt as a consequence. Both were seen hugging after the final whistle.
Dortmund, meanwhile, bemoaned that they had become the latest victims of German football's regrettable reluctance to embrace goal-line technology. "All those who voted against it should experience how it feels when you miss out on an important success because of that," said the left-back Marcel Schmelzer. The referee, Florian Meyer, and his assistant had waved play-on when Dante cleared the ball well behind the line in the 64th minute after a Mats Hummels header. "Why not at least have the extra referees [behind the goals]?" asked an angry Klopp. "They have them everywhere and in Siberia, but not here". Dortmund, meanwhile, bemoaned that they had become the latest victims of German football's regrettable reluctance to embrace goalline technology. "All those who voted against it should experience how it feels when you miss out on an important success because of that," said the left-back Marcel Schmelzer. The referee, Florian Meyer, and his assistant had waved play-on when Dante cleared the ball well behind the line in the 64th minute after a Mats Hummels header. "Why not at least have the extra referees [behind the goals]?" asked an angry Klopp. "They have them everywhere and in Siberia, but not here."
The German FA was not technically bound by the Bundesliga club's vote to refrain from introducing said technology, and they had apparently debated using their own mobile system for the event before dismissing the idea. It'll be interesting to see whether the latest ghost goal will lead to more enlightened views. As Süddeutsche Zeitung pointed out, the much-trumpeted argument that such controversy was an integral and even attractive part of the game neglects to mention that referees, the weakest links in the game are having a heavy price for providing those debating topics. "The German referees asked for goal-line technology because they want to be freed from the role of being the idiots in the stadium," wrote the broadsheet. Unfortunately, 24 out of 36 professional clubs – Bayern and Dortmund were not among them – felt that wasn't worth €500,000 of their own money. The German FA was not technically bound by the Bundesliga club's vote to refrain from introducing said technology, and they had apparently debated using their own mobile system for the event before dismissing the idea. It'll be interesting to see whether the latest ghost goal will lead to more enlightened views. As Süddeutsche Zeitung pointed out, the much-trumpeted argument that such controversy was an integral and even attractive part of the game neglects to mention that referees, the weakest links in the game are having a heavy price for providing those debating topics. "The German referees asked for goalline technology because they want to be freed from the role of being the idiots in the stadium," wrote the broadsheet. Unfortunately, 24 out of 36 professional clubs – Bayern and Dortmund were not among them – felt that wasn't worth €500,000 of their own money.