It is the 33rd minute at the Allianz Arena in the second leg of the Champions League semi final between Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid. Javi Martinez has just won a penalty for Bayern.
The score is already one nil in a game in which Bayern have so far comprehensively outplayed Atletico, who look unusually unnerved by the occasion and Bayern's devastating performance. Up steps Thomas Muller. If he scores, this tie is surely over, there is no coming back for Diego Simeone's men. But if he misses...
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| What if Muller had scored? |
It is quite timely that I had just finished reading Pep Confidential before this crucial fixture earlier this month. If you haven't already read it (why!?), Marti Perarnau follows Pep Guardiola in his first season at Bayern Munich. It is a fantastic insight into the genius of Guardiola. This is a man with an obsession, but with a fierce passion to deliver success through his ethos and values. In the book, for example, you learn quite how furious he is with himself for betraying his own beliefs in the semi final tie where they are beaten by Real Madrid in that season.
It can be a fine line between success and failure. When Thomas Muller missed that penalty, it gave Atletico some belief back. Beforehand they had looked hopelessly lost, but this was their reprieve. As it was, Antoine Griezmann's second half goal proved crucial as they won on away goals.
And now, Guardiola has been branded by lots of critics as a 'failure' in his three seasons at Bayern. Here are the raw statistics of his tenure.
Games: 161
Wins: 121
Draws: 21
Defeats: 19
Goals scored: 396
Goals conceded: 110
Trophies: 7
A pretty astonishing record. However, to quote the man himself, "titles are just statistics". I believe we have to look beyond these when judging his time in Munich.
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| Guardiola seeks to develop his players understanding of the game |
Guardiola was tasked with creating something that would last beyond him, a legacy to make Bayern "a global player", in the words of Uli Hoeness. He has innovated once again with his 'inverted full backs' and Bayern are an incredible team to watch.
No one exemplifies Guardiola's work better than David Alaba. Under him, Alaba has become, in my eyes, the universal footballer. You could play him in practically every position on the pitch and he would give you an eight out of ten performance. He is incredible.
Who better to ask about the head coach's time than the players? Phillip Lahm, a man who had won almost all there is to win before Guardiola even arrived at the club said this:
"You’re always measured by the number of trophies but he developed a lot of players with the way he thinks about tactics, the way he analyses games and prepares teams for particular opponents. He really helps players develop and he even helped me improve at the age of 30. You’re right — with Pep it’s more than just about winning trophies."
Thomas Muller also branded it a disgrace that people might consider Guardiola a failure. The connection he made with his players is quite evident.
What it boils down to, ultimately, is how you define success! For some, Guardiola came into a ready made club who had just won the treble and had it easy. Therefore, anything but winning every trophy available is unacceptable. But how many teams have ever won the treble in succession, or even close together? Not so many, and maybe only when they have been reinvented as a team (see Luis Enrique with Barcelona last season) as Guardiola has also attempted to do.
For others, success is to implement your beliefs on a team. To develop the players individually and collectively. I believe that this is where Guardiola's philosophy leans towards. Regardless, no one will be more critical of him than himself. He will scrutinise every move he made and what he could have done differently.
As someone who enjoys coaching young children, success to me is seeing them enjoy the game and develop as a player and a person. Quite a different world to working at the elite level, but I like to think that Guardiola tries to be quite brave in having some of the values even at the top level.
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