Why Mario Gotze Can Be an Influential Player Again at Bayern Munich

For Mario Gotze, life at Bayern Munich has not gone according to plan. He left Borussia Dortmund in 2013 on a relative high, having reached the Champions League final and finishing a runner-up in the Bundesliga. He then joined Bayern, the only better club in Europe at the time and the same club that pipped his side to the DFB-Pokal, Bundesliga and Champions League titles.

Yet in two years at the Allianz Arena, Gotze has failed to assert himself on a regular basis. And this summer, he could even leave Munich. According to Sport Bild's Christian Falk, the German giants are considering using him as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Manchester United for Angel Di Maria.

Comments from the Germany international's agent, Volker Struth, haven't exactly helped his cause. Speaking to Bild (h/t Goal.com), the representative recently claimed that Pep Guardiola has "destroyed" Gotze by requiring the player to be decisive on the pitch when showing a lack of faith in his ability to do so.

Yet through all the exit rumors, there is still a chance for Gotze to make good on his potential if he remains in Munich. In fact, it may be better now than ever before.

There are some factors that are completely in Gotze's control. As discussed in this article, he needs to regain his confidence above all. During his time at Bayern, he's been too tentative, almost worried to lose the ball. Attacking players need to take risks to create chances, be they through attempting to take on defenders with dribbles or passing through tight spaces.

Simple, conservative ball-playing is for defenders and midfielders working their way out of their own half. For Gotze to achieve his potential, he needs to rediscover the inventive genius that made him a superstar, the creativity that made him unpredictable and incisive in the attacking third.

Gotze also needs to take the initiative to provide the attacking quality Bayern need when they play. Franz Beckenbauer criticized him in May (via Sky, h/t Goal.com) for having the passivity of an academy player. At 23 years of age, it's high time he grew up and took the bull by the horns.

To his credit, Gotze has kept a good attitude in the face of adversity, having (per Bild, h/t ESPN FC) pledged to take on extra training sessions and having already taken the initiative to undergo special fitness tests at Cologne's sport university.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Heading into next season, there will be a creative vacancy in the team, as Franck Ribery is likely to miss the early stages of the campaign while he recovers from an ankle injury. It was conflict with the Frenchman's role that in part led to Gotze's early struggles, with the Germany international being shuffled around the attack, be it on either wing, central midfield or as a striker.

While Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben are scorers first and do not clash so much with Ribery, who is a facilitator, Gotze is a playmaker who looks to assist, and as such, he demands a large number of touches in order to be effective.

It's no coincidence that his best spell in Munich came last September and October when Ribery was missing. Then, Gotze was able to lead the Bayern attack and was brilliant until Ribery's return.

Gotze lost his confidence and wasn't able to replicate his form during Ribery's absence later in the campaign, and his benching for all but a few minutes of the Champions League semifinals with Barcelona spoke volumes of how his stock had fallen in Guardiola's eyes over the course of the campaign.

Fortunately for Gotze, he has the pre-season to prove himself in a squad that may be less competitive than it was a year ago. It's true that Bayern splashed €30 million to sign Douglas Costa this summer, but the Brazilian is far from a guaranteed starter. Gotze knows that Guardiola is willing to bench even expensive signings. The trainer didn't bat an eye in benching the €37 million ex-Dortmund man.

Although a quality player, Costa's only standout skill at this point is his dribbling. His finishing is unremarkable, as is his creativity in passing, the one area that Bayern have noticeably lacked in Ribery's absence.

Moreover, Costa will likely take some time to adapt to a much more challenging league than the Ukrainian Persha Liha, as well as a new cultural setting in Germany. It's not a given, but Gotze has every chance to keep him out of the starting lineup.

If he can outperform Costa, Gotze may well find himself with less of a challenge for a starting role than before. Whereas a year ago, Ribery was still a reigning Ballon d'Or finalist whose place in the Bayern team could not be questioned, now he's a 32-year-old who spent the majority of last season on the sidelines.

Whether or not reports (via L'Equipe, h/t Metro) of Ribery possibly needing to retire early are true, Bayern are well aware that he will need to be replaced sooner or later. And their pursuit of Di Maria, as opposed to younger talents like Xherdan Shaqiri in 2012, is a clear indicator that they're looking for an immediate replacement.

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

There are some things that are beyond Gotze's control. Di Maria's signing would be a big blow to his chances of achieving his potential at Bayern, but the Argentinian's signing could well coincide with the German's departure. Assuming Gotze stays and Di Maria does not move to Munich, the German will be in a different situation from a year ago.

Rather than just acting as a placeholder for Ribery in the starting lineup, Gotze could maintain a starting role even in the presence of a fit Ribery. The 23-year-old will have to deliver, though.

It's also possible that with injuries and recoveries, Ribery and Gotze will have to play together, in which case their overlapping qualities could cause conflict. Alternatively, Thiago Alcantara could be deployed in an attacking role, with the Spaniard demanding more of the ball and thus decreasing Gotze's individual effectiveness in creating play.

Gotze had a clearly defined role when he was at Dortmund, the best stint of his career, and he was entrusted with responsibility. That responsibility has a huge motivating effect on players. Consider Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez, who joined Juventus as outcasts and became heroes last season. Gotze needs to be needed, and if he isn't, he will likely fail.

If he wins back Guardiola's trust in preseason, avoids getting sold and is given responsibility within the team, Gotze could have a breakthrough season at Bayern and fulfill the promise he showed in his youth. At 23, he has his best years ahead of him. The question remains whether he'll spend them in Munich or elsewhere.

@Mr_Bundesliga