Guardiola Pays the Price for Bravery

Pep approached the game with a sense of reckless abandon & Messi exploits them dearly

This blog has been in almost complete admiration for the coaching talents of Pep Guardiola in recent years. The Calatan has a philosophy to the game which captivates in its mastery, movement and control to the game of football. His Barca side captivated the world and revolutionised the game. From this a new breed of football was ushered in and Barca conquered the world. 

Since his departure Barca have struggled to reach those heights again while Guardiola was the most sought out coach in world football. He chose Bayern Munich as a place to further his tactical ideas and philosophies, while they sought him to take the club further, to write a new chapter in football history. Bayern’s board wanted what Barcelona had produced under his stewardship. It was the big games where he was going to prove his worth, playing and winning in style. The problem is, for a second year running he looks to be guilty of mistakes once again. 

In the past few years Bayern have become regarded as Europe’s finest team, Champions League success in 2013 appeared to usher in their own ‘new era’. Guardiola was seen as the man to take on this responsibility. Last season Bayern dominated their domestic league, winning it in record time. Their goal to win back to back European cups however was curtailed by Real Madrid in the semi-finals. Real Madrid, whose own setbacks in the competition had been a regular occurrence under Mourinho, overcame and destroyed Pep’s Bayern. Pep admitted he got it wrong in the 2^nd leg, a 1-0 defeat away at the Bernabeu was praised as ‘brave’ and in line with his attacking principles. However Bayern didn’t look as ruthless or ‘effective’ against this top side as they had under Heynckes a year previously. It was more possession and more predictable. 

That being said, a 2^nd leg would give them a chance to overcome the 1-0 deficit. But all that happened was Bayern threw it away in a glorious fashion. It was a capitulation! He blamed himself for changing the tactics, he had set himself out to be brave (that word again) yet listened to the players and changed his approach. It didn’t work and he vowed not to dis-trust his instincts his again. 

A year later and we are back here again. But this time it is even worse. This initial narrative was intended to give an idea of the pressures Guardiola was under, yet as this article will discuss, I fear he allowed the pressures of ‘performance’ to cloud his judgement on ‘success’.

Homecoming 

Perhaps it was the sense of returning ‘home’ to where it all began for him as a player and coach. The Camp Nou where so much had happened for him these past 25+ years. To have been drawn against his old side seemed written in the stars. 

The last time these two faced up Bayern demolished Barca 7-0 on aggregate, indicating the end of an era for Barca and on a new force in Europe emerging. Yes Messi was out and Viilanova absent with illness, however there was more to this game than that. The counter attacking force, strength and speed of Bayern killed Barca. Their possession game was almost impotent. Had this style which for so many seasons had dominated the game, now found a rival who could overcome it? Or were Barca simply ordinary without Messi?

Now while there were many narratives to this game the one which resonated with me most was simply the sense of having to overcome ‘your’ old team and players to achieve success with your new club. The opposition would be his hardest out of the other three. Juventus or even Madrid, who demolished him so badly last season would have been better for Pep, because they both would alter towards him. Yet this was Barcelona, and they don’t change for anyone! 

Pep has a similar idea and approach, therefore we encountered game of two sides wishing to impose themselves on the game, pressing high and aggressive and imposing their attacking brand of football on the game. Incredibly this is not something we have become accustomed to in recent seasons with the emergence of sides who allow teams to have the ball and seek to counter. This was a game where both sought to dominate possession and press high. 

What we got was an enthralling game for the neutrals, high energy, quality play yet unfortunately, Guardiola got it badly wrong. 

Now of course goals change games and had Robert Lewandowksi took his chance 18 minutes in perhaps the game would have been different. Pep would have got his away goal, the one he treasured and sought so desperately, and from there he may have opted to ‘shut the game down’ more effectively. However as the game went on Bayern’s pursuit of that away goal killed them and destroyed their hopes of progressing to the final. 

The first 15 minutes of the game was seen as lunacy from Guardiola because it wasn’t just a back three with defensive cover with central midfielders and wing backs but a full out press seeking 1v1 match-ups all over. Had Bayern exploited these battles perhaps it would’ve been a genius strategy. But they didn’t. Not only were they exploited 1v1 defensively and having to rely on Neuer perhaps too much, but the players, notably Thiago, Lahm, Alonso and Schweinsteiger were wasteful in their passing and retention. That opening 15 minutes could be seen as brave but to be honest it wasn’t right, and it wasn’t right because the players didn’t seem to believe in it. 

When he moved to a back four Bayern immediately created a chance which Lewandowski should have scored from. The players seemed to relax and play with more belief and understanding. I don’t believe Guardiola wanted to alter it, yet it was clear it wasn’t working. In that initial start Bayern for me never really imposed themselves on the game. 

Now I will give Guardiola one allowance and that is the absences of their key players Robben and Ribery. In a similar way to Barca without Messi the last time these met, missing your key players is not helpful. However this is Bayern, a team who believe that their biggest challenger in the Bundesliga is their own B team in training! Muller and Lewandowski are regarded as two of the best forwards in world football. Thiago is seen as one of Europe’s finest playmakers. This was not a weak side, yet it was weakened. 

Barca on the otherhand were as healthy as it can get and with the finest front three in the history of the game up front, it was a daunting prospect for any side, even Bayern. To go man on man was naïve and fortunately not costly. However my issue with Guardiola is that he couldn’t resist taking the game to Barca and seeking to win the game. 

Whether or not you believe in a ‘certain’ way to play and approach a game, the truth is this is a results business and Guardiola got his intentions wrong. Perhaps it was the feeling from Madrid last year that an away goal was essential. He admitted he felt Thiago’s goal vs Porto was key to their feeling of belief in the 2^nd leg. But you just can’t be so naïve against Barca, and especially against Messi. 

Up until the 1^st goal the approach and the game as a whole wasn’t ‘wrong’, yes Messi was looking lively, Neymar dribbling and Rakitic and Iniesta finding spaces, however it never seemed Barca were truly threatening. But Bayern killed themselves. And while it was Neuer and Bernat who are to blame, Guardiola should shoulder the blame too. 

If you watch the build up to the goal again Barca players surround the ref asking for a penalty on Neymar. Neuer grabs the ball and seeks to play Bernat out left with a quick kick. Why? If he wanted to start a quick attack he should have sought out Lewandowski or Muller who are excellent at receiving long passes under pressure. That was a worthy opportunity to counter. In fairness Suarez sees the threat and looks to block the pass. Yet for me, Neuer should then pause and allow his team to set-up and deal with the goal kick when organised. Under Heynckes this would have been planned, the game tempo slowed and a longer kick into the midfield with a lot of players around the ball taken. But Guardiola wants it out of the back. And this cost them. 

Now when Bernat gets the ball, he could have hit a longer pass to his forwards, but decides to beat his man 1v1, Alves reacts and presses, Messi is so much space because of the chaos of the teams organisation and it’s 1-0. It was a goal which didn’t need to be conceded. It was poor decision making. And clearly came from the tactical strategy of Guardiola. Had this error not happened I do think it could have been 0-0. Yet I worry Pep wanted a goal, and was willing to expose his defence to get it. Now if you score from a counter or set piece that's great, but don't forsake your defensive balance and organisation in pursuit of that goal! Bayern won the Champions League because of their strong and organised defence! Pep needed to make this a game for the 2^nd leg. And what has happened is that it seems a procession to the final for Barca.

A shambles of positioning out of possession

Now the 2^nd goal is down to the poor positioning of Bernat and the midfield press and compactness. While I’ve been impressed with him this season I think he showed his deficiencies in these two goals. This was one was down to positioning. Now watching back this goal and the build up and Bayern are a shambles out of possession. Messi loses the ball to Boateng and its picked back up by Rakitic who then plays a few passes with Pique and Busquets. It’s so simple but Bayern’s midfield press Busquets in a straight line and Rakitic receives behind them with such ease. Now he is facing forwards and Bayern are in all sorts of trouble. The back line isn’t together at all, Bernat is ahead of Boateng in no-mans land to be honest and because of this Messi is able to receive and go 1v1 with such ease. What he did after was splendid yet what Bayern did to allow this is criminal in this level of football. 

I love what Guardiola does as a coach, how he wishes to play, yet I sense with Bayern that he is trying too hard and perhaps forgetting the fundamentals. His wish to have Lahm in midfield cost him having a world class full back in Lahm playing at left back for Bernat. For me Bernat just isn’t good enough defensively to be having a Lionel Messi on his side. And as for the third goal, well it’s just a shambles once again. Another counter attack exposing the space between and behind Bayern and once again Messi finds space to take a touch and then feed Neymar who finishes with ease.

I will praise Barca shortly, but let me just state that for me Guardiola got it all wrong. His team shape, line-up (granted injuries cost him) and strategy for me was all wrong. Yes in hindsight of course you can say this but I felt he would be smarter after last season’s disaster and think with his head, not heart. This screamed of a game in which he wanted to ‘prove’ his side were better, rather than approach it logically to make sure his team had a chance to progress. 

I also found his decision to bring Gotze on straight after the goal showed his continued desperation to score, perhaps feeling he needed a winger type option to expose space out wide. The fact Gotze didn’t start highlights his own personal issues right now however I would have started Gotze in a 4-2-3-1 Dortmund type formation, one used so well last time Bayern arrived at Barca. A strategy to play a more direct and counter attacking style which players like Lewandoswki and Gotze thrived in under Klopp at Dortmund? 

I feel Pep didn’t play to his teams strengths, opting more for his own philosophy over what this team, against this opposition, could achieve. And remember…it was only the 1^st leg!

Barca's brilliance shines once more

Let’s touch on Barca, because they deserve a lot of credit. This is a team which has been through a few difficult years since Guardiola left. Losing Vilanova, board issues, losing key leaders, however this season, or more importantly in 2015, this team has become a phenomenon. Lionel Messi has emerged from a sort of trance in 2014 to being his wonderful, mesmorising self once again. And when Messi smiles, all is good. 

Barca look hungry, energetic and simply class. Suarez has offered the dimension they needed which has provided Messi with more space to work his magic deeper and between lines. And Neymar has been fantastic, showing positional discipline and lightening skills and vision with the ball. Rakitic has offered a new element to the midfield, giving more dynamism and energy to what was becoming a tired trio with Xavi. Dani Alves looks re-energised along with Pique. 

There is a sense of belief and happiness with Barca once more and this is bringing out the best in their play. Luis Enrique’s desire to have a more direct approach is working also, Barca are breaking and transitioning quicker with more vertical passing and running, which makes sense with the speed and skill they possess. This added element to their game is showing to be valuable. They have evolved and adapted.

A long way from dominating Europe

As for Guardiola, I thought he would be more varied at Bayern, thought he would use the various options at his disposal more effectively. But it just seems Guardiola wants Bayern to be Barca, and that shouldn’t be the case. As much as Bayern wish to become better than Barca there is a sense that no-one can match them no matter how hard you try, and especially when you don’t have a Lionel Messi in your team. There is no other player who matches Messi and because of this Barca look on another level to anyone else. 

All this equates to the problem I have with Guardiola’s approach to this game, he knows how good Messi is, and I didn’t get a sense he tried to nullify him or even stop the supply to him. It was a strategy which focused on what his team were going to do, yet seemed to neglect, stupidly, how to play and deal with Barca. A high pressing may look brave but it was exhausting (perhaps no surprise Bayern conceded around 80 mins?) and offered space for great players to exploit. Talk about naïve!

Yes Guardiola was denied his two key players, three including Alaba and four including Javi Martinez, they would have made a difference no doubt. But he should have accepted his teams inferiority away at Camp Nou and approached the game differently. Personally I feel Muller and Lewandowski would have played better with a more transition based approach and feel that the goals could have been prevented had they had a better strategy of containment over being expansive. That first goal is just so naïve, something you’d see in youth academies. And the second goal is such poor positioning defensively that you have to ask serious questions over how he approached and prepared for the game. 

There have been some great masterclass performances against Barcelona in recent years, this I’m afraid wasn’t one of them and it leaves Bayern and Guardiola in search of that European crown. He has one more year left to try and get it, based on this game, he seems a long way off. People will say he was brave to approach the game like he did, yet it would have been even braver to alter his style to achieve success. 

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