Bastien Schweinsteiger, the former Bayern Munich and Germany international, believes that Pep Guardiola’s tenure as Bayern’s coach has played a significant role in Germany’s recent decline on the international stage.
During his time at the club, Schweinsteiger had the opportunity to work under Guardiola for two years, from 2013 to 2015, before moving to Manchester United.
Guardiola’s managerial success at Barcelona, where he spent four highly successful years, was followed by a three-year spell at Bayern Munich, during which he claimed seven trophies, including three Bundesliga titles and two German Cups. His achievements continued at Manchester City, where he has won a remarkable 14 trophies in a seven-year stint, including an unprecedented treble of the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in the previous season.
Guardiola’s insatiable desire for success, coupled with his unique football philosophy, has earned him widespread acclaim from coaches, players, pundits, and fans worldwide. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of the modern era, if not the greatest.
However, Schweinsteiger holds the belief that Guardiola’s influence has contributed to Germany’s recent downturn. In an interview with talkSPORT, the former Germany international discussed the country’s current predicament, stating, “Well, it’s a situation that’s very challenging for the German national team and football as a whole.”
Schweinsteiger pointed out the considerable changes that occurred in German football following Guardiola’s arrival at Bayern Munich. The German team, known for their fighting spirit and relentless running, started to prioritize a style of play characterized by short passes and ball possession. Schweinsteiger suggests that Germany lost sight of their traditional strengths during this period, focusing more on playing attractive football rather than their trademark resilience.
Although Germany tasted success by winning the 2014 World Cup under Guardiola’s reign at Bayern Munich, their subsequent performances have been disappointing. They were eliminated in the group stage of the last two World Cups and exited the Euro 2020 tournament in the Round of 16 after losing to England.
Joachim Low, who had been in charge of the German national team for 15 years, from 2006 to 2021, was replaced by Hansi Flick, the former Bayern Munich coach. However, Flick’s tenure has already raised questions, as he has experienced a difficult start to his managerial career with Germany. With only 12 wins, seven draws, and five defeats in 24 matches, Flick’s record is second-worst among Germany managers, surpassed only by Erich Ribbeck’s tenure from 1998 to 2000.
Germany’s recent form reflects their struggles, as they have won just four of their last 16 international matches over the past 16 months. Consequently, they have dropped to 15th place in the FIFA world rankings, falling behind countries such as the United States, Switzerland, Morocco, and Mexico.
In their most recent outings, Germany drew 3-3 with Ukraine in their 1,000th international match, followed by back-to-back friendly losses against Poland and Colombia. Their next fixture is a friendly against Japan on September 9.
Germany, hosting Euro 2024, will undoubtedly seek to rectify their decline and regain their status as one of the world’s elite footballing nations. However, Schweinsteiger’s comments on the influence of Guardiola’s style and philosophy serve as a reminder of the challenges they face in finding the right balance between attractive football and their traditional strengths.