Bayern Munich legend, Philipp Lahm has come out to say that Pep Guardiola would play 11 Iniestas if he is allowed to. He recently revealed that the Spaniard has definitely had to adopt a more cautious style of play since he left Barcelona.
According to him, Barcelona were a very good team, with almost everyone playing really well, so Pep could continue attacking because the whole club follows Johan Cruyff’s idea of total football.
Lahm added that he understands the sacrifices Pep has been making at his new clubs, as he now has to rely on athletic defenders who impose themselves in the air.
His words, “After the high point he reached in Spain, you can see that Guardiola is adapting.”
“Barcelona were a very good team, with almost everyone playing several instruments well. When they won the Champions League in 2009 and 2011, they suffocated their opponents.”
“That style was possible because the whole club follows Johan Cruyff’s idea of total football, [and] Guardiola sees himself in this tradition: if they let him, he would play 11 Iniestas.”
“Elsewhere he had to sacrifice a little of his idealism. In Munich [at Bayern] he let the specialists [Franck] Ribery and [Arjen] Robben play on the flanks, and the two full-backs drifted into the centre when the team had possession of the ball.”
“City now play a more cautious style, relying on athletic defenders who impose themselves in the air.”
“The team sometimes give the ball away, drop back, defend their area, take a breather and wait to counter-attack. The coach has learned to enjoy simple goals from a corner or a shot from outside the box: he has seen that those goals have their appeal too. He’s not just a fan of the ultra-attacking tiki-taka.”
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