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‘We trusted the way of Pep’ – Germany legend claims country has completely lost its DNA after Guardiola ‘mistake’
Read how the icon says Pep has changed his philosophy at City
A BAYERN MUNICH legend has claimed that Germany lost its DNA due to Pep Guardiola’s spell at Bayern Munich.
The Spanish coach won the lot at Barcelona during his four years in charge with his famous tiki-taka style of football.
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Guardiola, 53, left the Nou Camp in 2012 and, after taking a one-year sabbatical in New York City, he returned to the dugout 12 months later.
He took charge of Bayern Munich in 2013 just after they had lifted the Champions League and immediately set about imposing his style of play into the club.
Bayern stormed to the Bundesliga and German Cup titles during his first season before the German national side went on to claim World Cup glory in Brazil in 2014.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was part of the both squads at the time - although he left Bayern for Manchester United in 2015.
Guardiola stayed at the Allianz for three years in total, lifting the title in each campaign - and his former midfield star says his impact on the game there left a lasting legacy.
However, 39-year-old Schweinsteiger says that it also led to Germany losing its DNA with the national side struggling ever since, including group stage eliminations at the past two World Cups.
Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap, brought to you by SkyBet, he explained: “2012, 2013, 2014 – Bayern was probably the best team in Europe... and the national team won the World Cup, so we were very high.
“Then Pep came to Munich and obviously not easy, when you are a coach and you come to a country, and you’re the No1 in Europe or the world, but he had his style of football which is amazing.
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“When we played Barcelona, it’s difficult of course, and he tried to impact his way and he’s a genius. The ideas which he gives to the players, and during the game as well, it’s amazing.
“But what happened is that a lot of other clubs, and even the national team tried to copy, and we focused more on that style that keeping the values of the Germans.
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“We forgot completely about our DNA, and we trusted a lot in the way of Pep, which is very good, and we won everything, but that was a little mistake of German football, I would say.”
Schweinsteiger continued: “We changed not only Bayern Munich, but even the other teams in the Bundesliga and our national team adapted to it because Pep’s way is great.
“But I think that you cannot always play in one half, high up, it’s impossible, it’s very difficult.
“I’ve always said, Pep trained in Barcelona and had eleven actors on the field, and he had a movie - he’s trying to do the same movie in Munich or in Manchester City, but sometimes the actors are changing so that’s a tough thing for him.
“But I would never say that Pep was bad for Bayern Munich, he was amazing and I wish we had a coach in Munich like him again.”
Guardiola departed Bayern for Man City in 2016 and he finally guided them to Champions League glory last season - although Real Madrid ended their hopes of defending that crown on Wednesday night.
And Schweinsteiger says that Guardiola has adapted his style since winning it last term with City.
He added: “When he [Guardiola] won the Champions League, you could see how the defenders were defending.
“When you saw Stones playing as a six, and how he was playing with the ball, but more about the defensive way – that has changed.
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“He learned from his time in Munich, and maybe the first years at City, what does he need to win the Champions League – it’s also having defensive strengths.
“City has got it and has changed it. German football was No1 in the world, and we have lost our values, or we’re not focused anymore so much on our values and trusted a little bit more other things.”