What a Guardiola 4-3-3 Might Look Like at Bayern Munich

It will be on the banks of the Lago di Garda that Pep Guardiola launches his stylistic revolution of Bayern Munich.

Appointed to succeed Jupp Heynckes as Bayern manager ahead of the coming season, Guardiola and his players broke camp in this picturesque region of Northern Italy on Thursday and on Friday the former Barcelona boss took questions from reporters.

In his remarks the 42-year-old hinted at a shift to his preferred 4-3-3 system from the 4-2-3-1 that delivered Heynckes an unprecedented treble last term, telling AFP his team would use both “real strikers and false nines.” (FIFA.com)

He continued: “It also depends on the physical condition of the players as to which system I will choose.”

No doubt he will always have the option of going back to the 4-2-3-1 the Bayern players mastered last season, but, as he simply cannot improve on the club’s three-trophy campaign of 2012-13, it will likely be in stylistic elements where he looks to make a mark in 2013-14.

To that end it would seem likely that both Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller are tested in the central, “false nine” role in which Lionel Messi flourished under Guardiola at Camp Nou.

Gotze, who operated just behind Robert Lewandowski in Borussia Dortmund’s 4-2-3-1 formation last season, has already proven he can play through the middle and would only have to move slightly forward in the 4-3-3.

Thomas Muller, meanwhile, played his best football of the season after an injury to Toni Kroos allowed him to move between Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery and in behind Mario Mandzukic. He, too, could almost certainly adjust to a more advanced role for Guardiola.

Both players have also been used frequently on the right-hand side of the attack, so it would seem natural that Bayern’s front three going into this campaign would consist of both Muller and Gotze, as well as Ribery.

But what of the midfield trio?

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez have two of the three positions locked up, which means the remaining spot will go to an attack-minded playmaker who has considerable tactical nous and can both make well-timed runs into space and provide cover for his teammates.

Andres Iniesta fulfilled the role at Guardiola’s Barcelona, and the manager might feel Muller has the adaptability and smarts to drop that much deeper into midfield. Toni Kroos is another option. The 23-year-old has occasionally operated in the “2” of Bayern’s previous 4-2-3-1 system.

If it was Muller who moved in alongside Schweinsteiger and Martinez, there would suddenly be an opening for Arjen Robben on the right of the attack, although Xherdan Shaqiri could get a run-out in the position as well.

In any event, it’s clear Guardiola has plenty of options, and in his press conference he admitted to being spoiled for choice.

“I’ve noticed the Bayern players are very, very smart,” he told AFP, adding, “I do not like it when the opposing team has the ball. I want to have the ball. And we want to make sure we score more goals.”

Based on those comments it would seem the 4-3-3 will soon be arriving in Bavaria from its Lombardy staging ground.

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