By David Lee Wheatley
Fresh from his celebratory beer-soaking yesterday afternoon following a 1-0 victory over Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena in the last league fixture of a title-winning campaign, Bayern head coach Pep Guardiola now looks ahead to the DFB-Pokal final next week in which he hopes to secure the double during his first season in charge of the German giants.
Much has been written and said railing against the former Barcelona supremo's insistence on the enforcement of his famed possession-based tactical philosophy after the Bavarians bowed out of the Champions' League in meek fashion to Real Madrid at the semi-final stage. Many observers feel that Pep simply doesn't have a 'Plan B' to fall back on when his tiki-taka approach isn't working satisfactorily enough.
Despite the growing number of doubters, it's difficult to argue against his side's domestic dominance which has Bayern sitting at the top of the table by an incredible 19-point margin above closest challengers Borussia Dortmund, whom they also meet in Berlin for the showpiece Cup final next Saturday. The Munich outfit have plundered 29 wins from 34 games played, while drawing three and losing just two; both defeats coming after the league crown had been confirmed.
A potential double on home soil, coupled with a run to the last four of Europe's premier competition, would normally be more than adequate at most clubs. However, the reigning continental and World Club Cup holders have been heavily spoiled by their extraordinary success of recent years and are struggling to adjust to the fact that they haven't made yet another Champions' League final.
What must be noted is that Guardiola is in the midst of a huge task that will take time to fully integrate and indeed should eventually pay handsome dividends if the club's hierarchy and fanatical support show patience towards the Catalan tactical guru. He took over a Bayern side that was all about power, pace and physical presence; now he wants to keep that to an extent, allied to his favoured style of passing, movement and high pressing. It's not an overnight job and that has to be recognised in order for Pep to finally realise his ultimate goal of leading the Germans to the greatest heights in their history.
Guardiola himself recently stated: "I cannot be Bayern coach if I have to say things I don't agree with. That would be bad for the club and for the players, who are intelligent. They wouldn't trust me if I wasn't true to myself.
"It's up to the club to decide whether I'm the right coach for this club. That's not up to me.
"The team must play according to the ideas of the coach. I am convinced that is the only solution for the club.
"I didn't come here to change German football culture any more than that of Bayern. But when I speak to my players on a daily basis I can't talk about ideas in which I don't believe."
This is his way, his understanding of the game as it should be played and his mantra which he will stick with no matter what; there is no way on earth that the highly-decorated coach will alter his plans now to curry favour with the media or his employers. Guardiola has unwavering belief in his methods and 14 trophies over the course of four enthralling years in charge down in Catalonia says he's correct to stay with what works for him.
Of course, it was acutely disappointing for Bayern to lose out so embarrassingly to Real Madrid during that 0-4 drubbing at home in the semi-final second leg, but they absolutely have to hang on to their Spaniard and give him all the backing they can muster. It's my firm opinion that Guardiola's philosophy will pay off in the medium and long-term should the Bavarian decision-makers show their support for him throughout the remainder of his contract.
It would be a huge mistake to cut the cord at this point when Pep's project is still in its infancy and the Bundesliga shield is surely just the first of many trophies that will wind their way into an already full-to-bursting trophy cabinet in the near future.
Twitter: @davewh1980
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