So Pep Guardiola has taken the ‘easy’ decision. By agreeing to join Bayern Munich and rebuffing advances from the Premier League, it is being suggested he is pursuing an uncomplicated life.
Nothing could be further from the truth. It has often been said that Chelsea are obsessed with the Champions League but so, too, are Bayern Munich. Guardiola has been appointed to secure the trophy they so desire within the next three years.
I attended the Champions League final last season and saw how deeply losing to Chelsea affected Bayern. For a club with such a proud history, it is staggering that they have only been crowned Europe’s best once in the last 37 years and there will be an expectation on Guardiola to change that.
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Watching how he goes about that task, though, will be fascinating. Some could even be expecting him to struggle. You often hear it said that anyone could win with Barcelona’s team but circumstances before Guardiola was appointed in 2008 show that not to be true.
When Guardiola replaced Frank Rijkaard, Barcelona had finished third in La Liga, 18 points behind Real Madrid, and 10 adrift of Villarreal. But he made big decisions — such as off-loading Ronaldinho and Deco — and, within 18 months, Barcelona had won six trophies.
They progressed to become arguably the greatest club team of all time, spearheaded by Lionel Messi. His skills are obvious but Guardiola deserves huge praise, too, as he deployed Messi in that ‘false nine’ role, giving him the freedom to cause havoc.
Much gets spoken about the mesmerising way Barcelona pass, but their pressing is just as impressive. It is reminiscent of Arrigo Sacchi’s great AC Milan sides.
Dejection: Schweinsteiger, Lahm and Robben (right) after last season's Champions League finalJose Mourinho once said Guardiola had it simple, coaching ‘in his own backyard’, but working for your local team brings its own unique pressures. Friends and family question everything and losing is intolerable, as you feel you have let down those closest to you, as well as supporters.
It is a shame he is not coming to the Premier League but he is not shying away from a challenge and he will be aware of the scrutiny. He will have to enter the transfer market more than he did at Barcelona. Bayern’s academy cannot rival Barcelona’s La Masia and so he will be forced to look elsewhere to recruit more often than in the past. But his buying record isn’t flawless.
True, he turned Gerard Pique into one of the best defenders in the world after plucking him from Manchester United’s reserves but there were expensive blemishes. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, for starters, at €49.5million (£41m), was not a success coming from Inter Milan in 2009. And Alexis Sanchez, at €26m (£22m), has not justified such a huge fee since joining from Udinese.
Embracing the role: Guardiola gave Messi the freedom to become the world's greatest player and now must get the best out of the mercurial Franck Ribery (below)Another problem will be working without Tito Vilanova. Guardiola would be the first to acknowledge the support Vilanova has provided down the years. He will surely bring his own people in but he enjoyed a special rapport with Vilanova.
He is not, however, going into a club with huge problems. Bayern have Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, two of the world’s best wingers, who will be perfect fits for Guardiola’s 4-3-3.
Borussia Dortmund will be formidable domestic opponents, but it would be no surprise if Guardiola adds a couple of Bundesliga titles to his c.v. before coming to England. Can he deliver the big one? Whatever happens, it won’t be easy.
More... Abramovich is back to square one - is it time for him to go back to the Special One? Pep went with his heart... not his wallet, says Bayern chairman after Guardiola's Premier League snub
