Guardiola's philosophy is shaping football's future
The clash between Man City and Bayern in the Champions League was billed as the biggest test of Guardiola's Bayern career so far. It looked easy and he passed with flying colours. There we no signs of the 'emotionless' style of football which Matthias Sammer has accused Bayern of playing this season. Bayern’s success over City was so impressive and while this does not represent success, this will be judged by next May, what it did prove was that Guardiola is the most visionary and progressive coach in the game today.
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The future game
Guardiola's task to evolve a team who had broken records last season and played in a manner which many believed was not possible to improve was never going to be an easy task. The expectations on him was not only to defend the Champions League but improve on the performances and style. After watching Bayern dominate Pellegrini's star studded Manchester City many are left in little doubt to the brilliance of Pep Guardiola.
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The future game
Guardiola's task to evolve a team who had broken records last season and played in a manner which many believed was not possible to improve was never going to be an easy task. The expectations on him was not only to defend the Champions League but improve on the performances and style. After watching Bayern dominate Pellegrini's star studded Manchester City many are left in little doubt to the brilliance of Pep Guardiola.
In the aftermath of Wednesday nights game there were some who said it was impossible to dissect and analyse Guardiola’s sides performance. For some it was such poetry in motion that to attempt to understand it and learn from it was almost futile. How ridiculous!
My advice - get your notebooks out, watch intently and make copious notes. Because Guardiola is giving an education in the future game.
Bayern’s performance was as brilliant as City’s was abysmal. It was almost the Champions League version of City vs United just a few weeks ago. Yet unlike Moyes being taught a lesson about the modern game and fluid systems it was Pellegrini on the receiving end this time. The hierarchy of coaches was very much highlighted in these two games.
Great sides make good teams look average and Bayern made City look distinctly mediocre. The reason is simple (yet complex), yes Pellegrini has ‘years’ over Guardiola in terms of management and coaching yet he comes nowhere near his ideas and progressive approach to the game. With Bayern Guardiola has the ability to teach us about the future game. In fact in many ways he is defining and writing the future game himself.
Totalfootball's constant influence
My advice - get your notebooks out, watch intently and make copious notes. Because Guardiola is giving an education in the future game.
Bayern’s performance was as brilliant as City’s was abysmal. It was almost the Champions League version of City vs United just a few weeks ago. Yet unlike Moyes being taught a lesson about the modern game and fluid systems it was Pellegrini on the receiving end this time. The hierarchy of coaches was very much highlighted in these two games.
Great sides make good teams look average and Bayern made City look distinctly mediocre. The reason is simple (yet complex), yes Pellegrini has ‘years’ over Guardiola in terms of management and coaching yet he comes nowhere near his ideas and progressive approach to the game. With Bayern Guardiola has the ability to teach us about the future game. In fact in many ways he is defining and writing the future game himself.
Totalfootball's constant influence
Arrigo Sacchi prophesied the future game to be one of universality. For him the future game will require interchangeable footballers capable of operating wherever required. Sacchi, one of Italy’s, or football's best ever coaches, believes the game of the future will require positional freedom and variability. He believes ‘universal players’ are the future of the game.
Sacchi believes that fixed position specific players (outfield) will become redundant in a game which needs and promotes rotation and fluidity. This trend did not look likely during the 2000’s, where the game become obsessed with ‘specialists’. Yet it is evident that this new decade is one of ‘fluidity’ and universality.
Sacchi’s prophecy has come true thanks to Pep Guardiola. This is no surprise when you consider the cultural influence and philosophical grounding which Guardiola received. As a player he was educated under the totalfootball philosophy of Cruyff and witnessed the might of Sacchi’s Milan side win back to back European Cups. He won the European Cup under Cruyff in 1992 yet was overcome by the same Milan (under Capello) in a 4-0 European Cup defeat in 1994. That loss ended Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ and for some perhaps totalfootball.
Post 1994 to 2005 football was dominated by ‘pragmatic’ coaches, men who believed in fixed and rigid systems. Fluidity was not the key for coaches like Capello, Lippi, Ferguson, Hitzfeld, Mourinho, Benitez or even Del Bosque. These were the dominant coaches of the late 90’s and 2000’s.
There was perhaps one exception, and that was Arsene Wenger whose philosophies were seeped in the methods of Michels, Sacchi and Cruyff (the fact he never succeeded in winning the Champions League may be a reason as to why he doesn't the credit of being a 'great' like others).
Yet Sacchi and Cruyff's philosophies had not died, they had influenced a new era of coaches who would seek to create what they had produced.
Football's new era
In 2003 a new style was emerging in particular at Barcelona where under Frank Rijkaard the team was emerging as a serious entity in Europe. With Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Deco the team were full of flair and creativity. It was a different style to what was dominant at this time and it began to ‘work’ and breed success. Arsenal had brought the philosophy to England and prospered from it. Yet Barcelona would take it to the next level. It was fitting that these two sides squared off in 2006, symbolic of the new era bearing fruit.
When Luis Aragones took Spain to European Championship success in 2008 it was evident that the new era had blossomed. Twenty years after Cruyff had laid down his vision for the future of the club it was coming to fruition.
What Barcelona needed to take it further, what Sacchi and Cruyff desired, was a man to make that dream come true. They needed a visionary to make their dream of universality real. And they found him in Pep Guardiola. It took 15 years to have a protégée and product of those two visionaries men of the late 80’s and 90’s to continue their vision and in Guardiola they had found him.
Guardiola's rise to football genius
At Barca Guardiola knocked Mourinho off his perch as the ‘modern coach’. He brought a new energy and ideas to Barcelona. He took and enhanced the philosophies of totalfootball already laid at Barcelona and took them further. Importantly he succeeded. Not only succeeded, dominated.
Due to their success and dominance Barcelona became a new blueprint for the modern game. The physicality and strength of the past decade was now seen as slow and rigid against a style of football which was sharp, quick and frighteningly efficient.
In choosing Guardiola over Mourinho Barcelona not only helped themselves but helped football’s future. Mourinho would not have achieved what Guardiola did in terms of style. He would not have brought out the skill and quality in Messi, he would not have used a false nine but more likely brought Drogba to the Camp Nou. It is not to say he wouldn’t have been successful but he would not have influenced football like Guardiola, the visionary did.
Sacchi believes that fixed position specific players (outfield) will become redundant in a game which needs and promotes rotation and fluidity. This trend did not look likely during the 2000’s, where the game become obsessed with ‘specialists’. Yet it is evident that this new decade is one of ‘fluidity’ and universality.
Post 1994 to 2005 football was dominated by ‘pragmatic’ coaches, men who believed in fixed and rigid systems. Fluidity was not the key for coaches like Capello, Lippi, Ferguson, Hitzfeld, Mourinho, Benitez or even Del Bosque. These were the dominant coaches of the late 90’s and 2000’s.
There was perhaps one exception, and that was Arsene Wenger whose philosophies were seeped in the methods of Michels, Sacchi and Cruyff (the fact he never succeeded in winning the Champions League may be a reason as to why he doesn't the credit of being a 'great' like others).
Yet Sacchi and Cruyff's philosophies had not died, they had influenced a new era of coaches who would seek to create what they had produced.
Football's new era
In 2003 a new style was emerging in particular at Barcelona where under Frank Rijkaard the team was emerging as a serious entity in Europe. With Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Deco the team were full of flair and creativity. It was a different style to what was dominant at this time and it began to ‘work’ and breed success. Arsenal had brought the philosophy to England and prospered from it. Yet Barcelona would take it to the next level. It was fitting that these two sides squared off in 2006, symbolic of the new era bearing fruit.
When Luis Aragones took Spain to European Championship success in 2008 it was evident that the new era had blossomed. Twenty years after Cruyff had laid down his vision for the future of the club it was coming to fruition.
What Barcelona needed to take it further, what Sacchi and Cruyff desired, was a man to make that dream come true. They needed a visionary to make their dream of universality real. And they found him in Pep Guardiola. It took 15 years to have a protégée and product of those two visionaries men of the late 80’s and 90’s to continue their vision and in Guardiola they had found him.
Guardiola's rise to football genius
At Barca Guardiola knocked Mourinho off his perch as the ‘modern coach’. He brought a new energy and ideas to Barcelona. He took and enhanced the philosophies of totalfootball already laid at Barcelona and took them further. Importantly he succeeded. Not only succeeded, dominated.
Due to their success and dominance Barcelona became a new blueprint for the modern game. The physicality and strength of the past decade was now seen as slow and rigid against a style of football which was sharp, quick and frighteningly efficient.
In choosing Guardiola over Mourinho Barcelona not only helped themselves but helped football’s future. Mourinho would not have achieved what Guardiola did in terms of style. He would not have brought out the skill and quality in Messi, he would not have used a false nine but more likely brought Drogba to the Camp Nou. It is not to say he wouldn’t have been successful but he would not have influenced football like Guardiola, the visionary did.
Now of course Guardiola, like most visionaries and revolutionaries took the philosophy to new levels, of which the players and team struggled. He sought near complete universality yet instead struggled to find the right players and system. Cruyff’s 3-4-3 became his desire yet he could not perfect it and ultimately the stress of being a revolutionary took its toll on him.
However Guardiola’s Barcelona pointed to the future and made many coaches and players seek to replicate their philosophy (this happened across all levels). This is what revolutionists achieve, they inspire and educate a new way of being and ultimately dictate where the future is going.
The perfect project for a visionary
However Guardiola’s Barcelona pointed to the future and made many coaches and players seek to replicate their philosophy (this happened across all levels). This is what revolutionists achieve, they inspire and educate a new way of being and ultimately dictate where the future is going.
The perfect project for a visionary
Enter Bayern Munich.
Of all the opportunities to continue his vision Bayern was the perfect fit for him. A club whose past decade was one of evolution and flux in terms of style and philosophy was, just like Barca in 2008 seeking a revolutionary to take it further.
Klinsmann attempted to make them more 'English' with high tempo football. Van Gaal brought the Dutch attacking philosophy to the side, Heynckes brought the key defensive organisation and structure and Sammer added the intensity and mindset which the players and team needed.
A complete team, built over many years, consisting of home grown talent (built on the new German model) along with world class players was evidenly a well planned out and successful model. German efficiency in action once again.
Three Champions League finals in four years was somewhat ignored because of Barca’s dominance yet what in fact was happening was that Bayern were building a machine which offered the keys to the future game.
After such a dominant and successful year in which the team played a style very much in-line with the ‘modern game’ (4-2-3-1 with a double pivot, inside forwards and a strong ‘complete’forward) the club now wanted to make this team the ‘future’.
Enter Pep Guardiola.
Of all the opportunities to continue his vision Bayern was the perfect fit for him. A club whose past decade was one of evolution and flux in terms of style and philosophy was, just like Barca in 2008 seeking a revolutionary to take it further.
Klinsmann attempted to make them more 'English' with high tempo football. Van Gaal brought the Dutch attacking philosophy to the side, Heynckes brought the key defensive organisation and structure and Sammer added the intensity and mindset which the players and team needed.
A complete team, built over many years, consisting of home grown talent (built on the new German model) along with world class players was evidenly a well planned out and successful model. German efficiency in action once again.
Three Champions League finals in four years was somewhat ignored because of Barca’s dominance yet what in fact was happening was that Bayern were building a machine which offered the keys to the future game.
After such a dominant and successful year in which the team played a style very much in-line with the ‘modern game’ (4-2-3-1 with a double pivot, inside forwards and a strong ‘complete’forward) the club now wanted to make this team the ‘future’.
Enter Pep Guardiola.
Many were sceptical of what he would do and achieve at Bayern (and it is still early days remember). For many how could you improve on what they did last year. In terms of results perhaps it was not possible. But in terms of style, performance and ‘legacy’ the team could be enhanced.
To bring in the most visionary coach of the 21st century was the obvious solution to what Bayern wanted to achieve. They wanted to be what Barca were these past several years, successful yes, but more than that, they wanted to be iconic.
To bring in the most visionary coach of the 21st century was the obvious solution to what Bayern wanted to achieve. They wanted to be what Barca were these past several years, successful yes, but more than that, they wanted to be iconic.
Some wondered if Guardiola would take a radical approach to the job or would he be more conservative and use what was so successful before. Those who thought the latter do not know Guardiola. Totalfootball is in his blood and his style and beliefs are evident because of this. It is almost like a religion for him. Because of this it was clear he would seek to mould Bayern in his philosophy.
Based on what Bayern have achieved so far and most notably against City he has worked his visionary magic and taken Bayern from ‘modern’ to ‘future’ in 100 days.
The need to be fluid and master space
Based on what Bayern have achieved so far and most notably against City he has worked his visionary magic and taken Bayern from ‘modern’ to ‘future’ in 100 days.
The need to be fluid and master space
What has he done? Well he sees the game in terms of dominating possession and mastering space. For him this is the key to football. This is why he seeks to flood and dominate his midfield areas. Yet it is not only a matter of numbers but of types and personalities.
For him the key to his style being effective is to use players with great football intelligence. Hence the emergence of Phillip Lahm in the middle of midfield.
For many he is the world’s best full back, yet for Guardiola he is a football genius, the most intelligent player he has ever worked with (some compliment when you consider Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Messi). Therefore why put a player with such knowledge on the wings, this is a player who needs to play centrally and be a major part of the nucleus of the side.
Many thought it was foolish to move Lahm around, unnecessary and problematic. Yet for a visionary like Guardiola it is not foolish but logical. What he is teaching us is that the future game is all about intelligence. Because intelligence is required to master a world of universality.
For him the key to his style being effective is to use players with great football intelligence. Hence the emergence of Phillip Lahm in the middle of midfield.
For many he is the world’s best full back, yet for Guardiola he is a football genius, the most intelligent player he has ever worked with (some compliment when you consider Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Messi). Therefore why put a player with such knowledge on the wings, this is a player who needs to play centrally and be a major part of the nucleus of the side.
Many thought it was foolish to move Lahm around, unnecessary and problematic. Yet for a visionary like Guardiola it is not foolish but logical. What he is teaching us is that the future game is all about intelligence. Because intelligence is required to master a world of universality.
Reactive players will not work in the future, the skills of anticipation and perception as well as mastering space and time will become the hallmark of the future game.
When you consider these elements you see Guardiola as a player and after him you see the genius of Scholes whose value was never truly appreciated in the era he played in (at least by his own nation). Scholes in his prime now would be simply mesmerising because he understands and masters these key elements of the ‘future game’.
(Are we paying attention English coaches?! - We need to plan and prepare for the future game by developing young players with the required skills to adapt to football's evolution.)
The perfect mix
When you consider these elements you see Guardiola as a player and after him you see the genius of Scholes whose value was never truly appreciated in the era he played in (at least by his own nation). Scholes in his prime now would be simply mesmerising because he understands and masters these key elements of the ‘future game’.
(Are we paying attention English coaches?! - We need to plan and prepare for the future game by developing young players with the required skills to adapt to football's evolution.)
The perfect mix
It appeared that the vision at Barcelona fell short of his overall vision, yet at Bayern Guardiola has been given another chance with arguably a greater and varied side. Bayern’s owners appear to have got what they wished for, not only positive results but a man who will make them iconic.
Bayern personify the future game and its needs. A mix of physical athletes with strength, skill, speed and intelligence is the ‘perfect mix’. Looking at his setup it is clear that he sees the game going to where many have prophesied before; a 2-8-0 formation. To put it clearer it is more like a 2-3-5.
The positions of the centre backs are relatively fixed (though expect forward runs from his CB's as the season progresses) as too the single pivot in midfield. Yet in front of them the game is fluid and universal. Out wide are modern ‘wing backs’ yet as we saw these rotate. The midfield is constant flux and fluidity which makes it almost impossible to track.
The style necessitates players who can retain possession with quick combination play yet because the idea is to have several players around the ball to dominate possession the advantage is also there in transition when the ball is lost as there are 4/5 players who are capable of pressing and closing the player and ball down.
This style overwhelms and suffocates the opposition and makes it extremely difficult to find spaces through. It ends up reducing good teams into rushed and mediocre ones. Like 'good' sides did against Barca they often end up hitting hopeful long balls to their forwards in fits of desperation.
Now of course Guardiola’s style has meant the inevitable evolution of a reactive style, one which seeks to overcome ‘tiki-taka’. This is where counter-pressing has emerged through ‘reactive’ coaches like Klopp, Simeone and Mourinho. The style works and offers much in terms of success and nullifying ‘tiki-taka’ like Herrara’s Inter when they sought to nullify totalfootball with catenaccio in the 1960's.
However counter pressing is not revolutionary or visionary but merely a reactive negation to overcome the revolution which is totalfootball & Guardiola's style.
A true visionary and philosopher of the game
Based on what Guardiola has achieved in his time in management it is evident that he is the most ‘visionary’ coach and thinker of his generation. His education in football as a player and coach has given him the cultural exposure and indoctrination to become the new proponent and revolutionary of the totalfootball philosophy.
Bayern personify the future game and its needs. A mix of physical athletes with strength, skill, speed and intelligence is the ‘perfect mix’. Looking at his setup it is clear that he sees the game going to where many have prophesied before; a 2-8-0 formation. To put it clearer it is more like a 2-3-5.
The positions of the centre backs are relatively fixed (though expect forward runs from his CB's as the season progresses) as too the single pivot in midfield. Yet in front of them the game is fluid and universal. Out wide are modern ‘wing backs’ yet as we saw these rotate. The midfield is constant flux and fluidity which makes it almost impossible to track.
The style necessitates players who can retain possession with quick combination play yet because the idea is to have several players around the ball to dominate possession the advantage is also there in transition when the ball is lost as there are 4/5 players who are capable of pressing and closing the player and ball down.
This style overwhelms and suffocates the opposition and makes it extremely difficult to find spaces through. It ends up reducing good teams into rushed and mediocre ones. Like 'good' sides did against Barca they often end up hitting hopeful long balls to their forwards in fits of desperation.
Now of course Guardiola’s style has meant the inevitable evolution of a reactive style, one which seeks to overcome ‘tiki-taka’. This is where counter-pressing has emerged through ‘reactive’ coaches like Klopp, Simeone and Mourinho. The style works and offers much in terms of success and nullifying ‘tiki-taka’ like Herrara’s Inter when they sought to nullify totalfootball with catenaccio in the 1960's.
However counter pressing is not revolutionary or visionary but merely a reactive negation to overcome the revolution which is totalfootball & Guardiola's style.
A true visionary and philosopher of the game
Based on what Guardiola has achieved in his time in management it is evident that he is the most ‘visionary’ coach and thinker of his generation. His education in football as a player and coach has given him the cultural exposure and indoctrination to become the new proponent and revolutionary of the totalfootball philosophy.
From MIchels to Cruyff to Saachi and now Guardiola football’s cycles are often bred of visionary or reactive coaches. In Guardiola we have a true visionary and we should be looking to dissect and learn from this great of football.
His lesson is clear, this kind of style emerges after years of redefining the style and philosophy as Barca and Bayern have proven. It also comes from having and developing ‘great’ players too, players suited with the skills necessary for the modern game.
What Guardiola is showing us as coaches and students of the game is that the future of football is not fixed but fluid. A world of universality is where we are going and this because Guardiola is taking us there. Through his success his style then becomes the blueprint for the future, which makes him not only a visionary but a teacher.
Guardiola is one of the deepest thinkers and students of the game who has now become a teacher and philosopher of its future.So instead of watching in awe at Bayern we should be taking notes and learning, analysing and dissecting his team and players.
As for Guardiola, no wonder he has aged so quickly, he has the future of football on his shoulders.
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Arrigo Saachi believed in operating as a unit with high tempo pressing without the ball. Where did he play the fluid system you reference? Saachi favoured a 4-4-2 system pressing with a high line, which doesn't lend itself to 'Total Footbal'. He may have liked his players to have a holistic approach to the game and he did produce one of the finest teams to ever play football, but I think his AC Milan team played with a different philosophy to that taken by Cryuff and Guardiola.
ReplyDeleteFor me there is no one single right way to play the game, but many different ways, which can be both effective and provide excellent entertainment, which is what the game is all about.