Pep Guardiola destroyed our football — Bastian Schweinsteiger

In a recent interview with talkSPORT, former Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger attributed the decline of the national team to the influence of Pep Guardiola, the current manager of Manchester City.

Schweinsteiger expressed his belief that Germany lost its footballing values during Guardiola’s tenure.

Schweinsteiger, who played under Pep Guardiola for two seasons at Bayern Munich, suggested that the renowned coach’s arrival in Germany led to a significant shift in the country’s footballing philosophy.

According to the former midfielder, there was a strong emphasis on adopting Guardiola’s preferred style of play, characterized by short passing and intricate build-up play.

“When Pep Guardiola joined Bayern Munich and came to the country, everyone believed we had to play this kind of football, focusing on short passes and intricate play,” Schweinsteiger stated.

However, Schweinsteiger expressed concern that this change in approach resulted in Germany deviating from its traditional footballing values. The former national team player implied that the focus on Guardiola’s style of play led to a loss of identity and the erosion of the values that had previously underpinned German football.

“We were kind of losing our values,” Schweinsteiger lamented.

After spending two successful seasons under Guardiola’s tutelage at Bayern Munich, Schweinsteiger departed the club in 2015. The Spanish coach subsequently joined Manchester City in 2016, where he has since achieved considerable success.

Schweinsteiger’s comments regarding Guardiola’s impact on German football reflect his personal observations and opinion. However, they raise important questions about the influence of foreign coaching philosophies on national teams and the potential consequences for their traditional styles of play.

While Guardiola’s methods have yielded positive results and accolades at both Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Schweinsteiger’s remarks highlight a contrasting viewpoint regarding the impact of his style on the German national team.

As Germany looks to rebuild and rediscover its footballing identity, discussions surrounding the balance between adopting innovative approaches and preserving traditional values are likely to persist.

The opinions expressed by Schweinsteiger offer insight into the ongoing debate and provide a fresh perspective on the evolution of German football under Guardiola’s tenure.