Bastian Schweinsteiger, a former German football player, has suggested that Pep Guardiola shares some responsibility for Germany’s recent decline in performance. Schweinsteiger played under Guardiola’s coaching at Bayern Munich for two seasons before the coach moved to Manchester City in 2016. Germany, once a strong team, has struggled in major tournaments since reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016. They were eliminated in the group stages of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and in the second round of Euro 2020.
Schweinsteiger believes that Guardiola’s coaching style at Bayern Munich had a negative impact on Germany’s national team. He claims that the team became too focused on playing possession-based football and lost sight of their strengths as a fighting team. He feels that Germany’s values were compromised during Guardiola’s time at Bayern, and they no longer showcased their renowned fighting spirit.
Schweinsteiger expressed his thoughts during an interview with a British radio station. He mentioned that when Guardiola joined Bayern Munich, there was a shift towards playing a certain style of football with short passes, which resulted in the team losing their core identity. He believes that other countries used to admire Germany for their fighting spirit and relentless running, but this strength has been overshadowed by the emphasis on playing aesthetically pleasing football.
Looking at the bigger picture, although Bayern Munich achieved success under Guardiola’s leadership, winning three Bundesliga titles, two German Cups, and a Club World Cup, they also faced disappointment in the Champions League, losing in three consecutive semi-finals.
Germany now faces the task of rebuilding and rediscovering their identity under coach Hansi Flick. With only three wins in their last 11 games, the team’s confidence is low as they prepare to host Euro 2024. Schweinsteiger’s comments highlight the need for Germany to address the issues he raised and strike a balance between playing attractive football and leveraging their traditional strengths.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola continues to enjoy success as the coach of Manchester City, recently achieving a treble victory.