How Mario Gotze Can Prove He's an Ace in the Pack for Bayern Munich Once More

Bayern Munich will undoubtedly be looking to advance their European cause next season with a brand new set of talented players with whom Pep Guardiola can hope to finally lift the Champions League for the German side.

With many of Bayern’s best players beginning to look their age, along with a few who haven’t quite lived up to expectation, this coming summer transfer window should prove to be as eventful and productive for the Bavarian giants as any other.

Guardiola may opt to finally bring in a quality right-back to replace the good-but-not-quite-great Rafinha, while acquiring a central midfielder or two to bolster a very senior central midfield wouldn’t go amiss.

Yet when it comes to Bayern’s attacking threat next season, the club will be well aware that all they need in order to take the next step is to fully utilise a star who has spent much of this campaign either keeping warm on the bench or doing very little on the pitch.

Mario Gotze is undoubtedly around whom Guardiola can build his next bid for Champions League success next season.

What seems to be the biggest obstacle to Gotze finding his Borussia Dortmund form in Munich is perhaps the fact Guardiola's system and formations don't tend to suit the attacking midfielder.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Played as a No. 10 throughout most of his time under Jurgen Klopp, Gotze was the focal point of a very simple 4-2-3-1 formation in Dortmund. There, he could move between the left and right wing with ease while also playing off Robert Lewandowski as something of a second striker.

That simply isn't the case at Bayern. Under Guardiola's guidance, the German champions have gone from a similar 4-2-3-1 to something of a 4-1-4-1 formation, when they aren't playing a 3-5-2.

Such setups simply don't cater to natural No. 10s. As we've seen through much of this season, Guardiola has found a winning tactic in playing Xabi Alonso as the holding midfielder, with Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller on either wing. While in Gotze, with Bayern's tendency to play every ball down the wings, you have a central attacking midfielder who very rarely actually gets the ball.

Yet this conundrum could prove to be the solution to Gotze's problems. With Franck Ribery and Robben both in the twilight of their careers, the 22-year-old has the perfect opportunity to make sure he's next in line to become Bayern's next great wing player.

When we take a look at how Ribery and Robben play their games, it isn't actually too far off what Gotze does in the middle of the park. The Frenchman enjoys cutting inside and linking up with central players, while his Dutch counterpart tends to make a beeline straight for the opposing goal.

Gotze could quite easily do both of these things in the colours of Bayern. Once either of those two stars decides to bow out or should either pick up a lengthy injury—an unfortunate, regular occurrence with both players—Gotze must be ready to step in and prove that he can do exactly what they can on any wing, if not better.

Bayern may not be the best club for a growing star to learn his trade—especially if it involves having to pick oneself up after each dip in form—but the former Dortmund star should undoubtedly know that this European giant has invested the money and will invest the time in him turning things around.

If he can find himself some form and a starting role in Guardiola's team next season, then we may well see the man who once lit up German football with a simple flick of the boot. 

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