Clearly they had forgotten how lucky Chelsea were to overcome Pep's beloved Barcelona in the semi final of the Champions League last year with their total "Anti Football" & how that same negative tactical approach made them the unlikely European Champions with the skin of their teeth in Munich in May. This was after all against a Bayern side which more than any other team in Europe had been compared to Pep's beloved Barcelona.
And the similarities are precisely why Pep Guardiola chose Bayern over their richer "trophy buying" rivals:
Club pedigree, culture, sound youth system & policy, financial stability & championship winning experience & quality:
a) The tradition & support, both local & international: Barcelona, with their vast international appeal & fan base, clearly have Catalan roots engraved in the Club's culture. Bayern, with their proud Bavarian routes are the same.
b) Barcelona's youth academy has produced the likes of Xavi, Iniesta & the incomparable Messi. Bayern, whilst not as sophisticated, like other German clubs have invested heavily in youth development & produced the likes of Muller, Badstuber, Lahm, Schweinsteiger & others.
c) Bayern are arguably the most financially stable club in Europe that are also capable of matching the Arab & Russian mega money of trophy buying clubs (ie currently Man City, Chelsea & PSG) as well as the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid & Manchester United.
In fact, without exception, they have produced an annual profit every year in the last few years (ever since the year the construction of their new stadium started). This is compared to the official annual losses of in excess of 100m pounds by Chelsea & Man City in the last few years.
d) Bayern have been the Champions League finalists twice in the last 3 years & whilst they lost to Mourinho's superb Inter Milan side in 2010 fair & square, they literally handed the match to the undeserving Chelsea side last May in Munich.
Nevertheless, the major irreplaceable difference between Barcelona & just about all other football clubs in the world is the once in a life time axis of Messi Xavi & Iniesta which no other club can exactly emulate, with or without Guardiola.
Therefore, whilst Bayern have made their intention to rule European football very clear, it remains to be seen if this major appointment will do the trick for them.
Their only other foray when they employed Trapatoni did not bring them continental success in the 90s. Whilst the more recent appointment of Van Gaal took Bayern to the final in 2010. Van Gaal was also instrumental in streamlining Bayern's youth development policies by installing the likes of Muller, Badstuber & Contento to the first team.
All in all, after the huge heartache of Munich final loss against Chelsea last may, seeing Chelsea subsequently get eliminated in the group stage of Champions League this year AND miss out on Pep's services, make these very exciting times for diehard Bayern fans.
We've secured the services of Pep & now the rumour is the Brazilian "Messi" ie Neymar, who has been linked with all the usual trophy buying clubs of Europe (ie Chelsea, Man City & PSG) will be joining Pep at Bayern as he embarks on emulating his success at Barcelona.
And like all other life long diehard Bayern fans around the world, I couldn't be more hopeful & excited!
