After Saturday’s DFB Pokal victory, Pep Guardiola’s three year spell in charge of Bayern Munich has come to a triumphant end.
The win came against Borussia Dortmund, and quite fittingly so too. Guardiola’s first game in charge of Bayern was also a cup game against Borussia Dortmund, albeit one that he lost 4-2 after a devastating display of counter-pressing and counter-attacking from Jurgen Klopp’s men.
The differences between that side and the one he guided to a penalty shoot out win over Dortmund on Saturday are interesting. Personnel-wise, there’s not as much change as you’d think, but there are still big differences.
So, which XI was better: the 2013 debut side, or the 2016 finale team? Squawka investigates.
Goalkeeper: Tom Starke vs. Manuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer has been Guardiola’s goalkeeper of choice all throughout his time in Bavaria, but days before that first ever game, the mighty Neuer picked up a minor knock in a friendly. Without his preferred custodian, Tom Starke came in and did a pretty abysmal job of covering for his number one. Starke was particularly poor on the day and has never really amounted to anything since. Meanwhile, Neuer is the world’s best in his position, especially after three years of working with Guardiola on his now legendary sweeping abilities.
Verdict: Manuel Neuer (2016)
Right-back: Philipp Lahm
Philipp Lahm played right-back in both games, but what was more interesting is what he did in between. Lacking a defensive midfielder fit for his system, Guardiola converted Lahm, who he has called “the smartest footballer he’d coached”, into a pivot – another role the Bayern captain was excellent in.
But after signing Xabi Alonso, Lahm has recently mostly reverted to playing full-back, but now he has a much greater understanding of the game and a broader skill-set too. Lahm is well aware of what Guardiola has done for him personally and Bayern as a team; on Saturday he insisted that Guardiola lift the DFB Pokal trophy first.
However, Lahm set-up both of Bayern’s goals in the 2013 final, so the older model gets the nod.
Verdict: 2013 Philipp Lahm
Centre-back: Jerome Boateng
In 2013 Jerome Boateng was an automatic selection for Guardiola given every other central defender was either too old, too limited or too injured (or sometimes all three) to be of use. The German was a limited player, but had enough skill that, with coaching, he could improve.
He did just that, and now in 2016 he is one of the finest central defenders in the world. His ball-playing ability is phenomenal and a huge part of the way Bayern attack. Guardiola has improved him immeasurably.
Verdict: 2016 Jerome Boateng
Centre-back: Daniel Van Buyten vs. Joshua Kimmich
Daniel Van Buyten was over the hill even before Guardiola showed up. He tried his best but was simply atrocious against Dortmund, playing everyone onside for an early Marco Reus goal which set the tone for the afternoon.
Meanwhile Joshua Kimmich is a 21 year-old central midfielder, but has already shown himself to be more capable in central defence than Van Buyten ever did for Guardiola.
Verdict: Joshua Kimmich (2016)
Left-back: David Alaba
In 2013 David Alaba was a dynamic full-back for Bayern and a dynamic central midfielder for Austria. He already had an incredible skill-set and knack for spectacular goals. But Guardiola has inexplicably made him better. Alaba is now more consistent and able to use the ball, to read the opponents in both a defensive and offensive capacity as well as being able to play centre-back now.
Verdict: 2016 David Alaba
Holding-midfield: Thiago Alcantara vs. Arturo Vidal
Thiago Alcantara was one of Guardiola’s many attempts to find a suitable holding midfielder in 2013, and he performed to a reasonable level. Sublime in possession, the young man from Barcelona was found wanting in defence when Dortmund surged forward.
By contrast, in 2016 Arturo Vidal provided a much more robust roadblock for Dortmund when they attempted to counter-attack. Chalk it up to age and physical frame, but Vidal was more competent.
Verdict: Arturo Vidal (2016)
Central-midfield: Toni Kroos vs. Thiago Alcantara
Toni Kroos was a brilliant midfielder, and was perfectly suited for Guardiola’s style of play. Contract issues saw him depart after just one season but he was great right up to that point. In 2016 Thiago was more comfortable in a more attacking position, freer to dribble and take men on – but injury had hampered his development and he remains essentially the same player he was three years ago.
Verdict: Draw
Attacking-midfield: Thomas Müller
The mighty Thomas Müller has always been a scorer of big goals in big moments. He has always had an absurdly versatile skill-set too; a deluxe version of Pedro. In both Guardiola’s first and last games he was essentially playing in an attacking midfield role, moving into promising spaces to create danger. He may have been poor in both games, but in 2016 he is coming off a magnificent 32-goal season. Pep has gifted Müller a greater sense of consistency.
Verdict: 2016 Thomas Müller
Right-wing: Xherdan Shaqiri vs. Douglas Costa
Xherdan Shaqiri was a promising young winger in 2013, one that Guardiola never managed to improve despite working with him for a season and a half. Douglas Costa, meanwhile, joined Bayern in the summer of 2015 and immediately took a quantum leap forward in quality. The Brazilian has been a pulsating force for the Bavarians this season.
Verdict: Douglas Costa (2016)
Left-wing: Arjen Robben vs. Franck Ribery
The heroes of the Champions League final win shared similar fates here. Ribery missed the 2013 game with injury, and Robben did the same in 2016. Ribery never really lived up to his reputation under Guardiola – moments of magic were few and far between and rarely in big games. Robben, meanwhile, proved all the doubters wrong. The Dutch winger has been superb for Guardiola whenever he has been called upon, and in 2013 he was by far Bayern’s biggest threat – scoring both the Bavarian side’s goals in the game.
Verdict: Arjen Robben (2013)
Striker: Mario Mandžukić vs. Robert Lewandowski
Temperamental Croatian Mario Mandžukić was the workhorse at the head of the treble side that Guardiola inherited, but the success went to his head and the work-rate dropped. His fiery nature often saw him at odds with the Catalan coach, added to the fact that technically he just wasn’t as gifted as the 2016 striker Robert Lewandowski. The Polish number nine was mostly quiet against Dortmund, but has otherwise been consistently improving under Guardiola’s leadership.
Verdict: Robert Lewandowski (2016)
Result: 2016 wins 8-2
There can be no question that Guardiola’s final Bayern side is superior to his first one. Had Ribery been fit in 2013 it could have been a closer contest. Guardiola’s coaching excellence has improved all of the superstars at the Allianz Arena, leaving Bayern in magnificent
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