No, they forced him out, he was planning on retiring at the end of next season, but they've made him leave a year early just so they can get baldy, who'll be a giant flop anyway.
And probably Lewandowski. Wouldn't be surprised if they went for Hummels, Gundogan and Reus too. They do have 250 million to spend.
Disagree. Pep is an amazing manager, and Bayern are only going to get better under him. Just look at Barca without Pep.
Disagree. Pep is an amazing manager, and Bayern are only going to get better under him. Just look at Barca without Pep.
So I see: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11890/8407221/Bayern-Munich-coach-Jupp-Heynckes-decision-to-retire-was-not-entirely-voluntary I guess it's a bit of a risk to let him go now rather than get another year out of him. Then again, they were only going to get one more year out of him and it's not every day Guardiola becomes available.
Barca's problems now are nothing to with Pep leaving and everything to do with Puyol's injuries and refusal to address the defence, a problem that has plagued them for 3 years. They overloaded the midfield and instead of buying a defender they got too above themselves and thought they were so much better than everyone else they could afford to play midfielders in defence and get away with it. At the highest level you need quality CB's. All today proved is what I always say anyway. "A team is only as good as its weakest member" and whilst Messi is better than any Bayern player. Barca's worst players are considerably worse than Bayern's.
That's true. Never understood why the never went in for someone like Jan Vertonghen. Also, as much I would hate to see him leave, someone like Koscielny would be perfect for Barca, there is also David Luiz.
Sheesh louise, take it easy, yes Barca were outclassed, but they're still one of the top 2-3 teams in Europe. You make it sound like they're ****, Bayern made Barca look weak because Bayern are just that damn good at the moment. Barca are still on course to clinch the Spanish League (their 4th league title out of the last 5), which had a very strong Real and Athletico Madrid. True, Barca have always looked fragile in the back, which is why I think Bayern are a more complete team than them, but even with that fragility at the back, they were still often very solid with their very very committed work rate of tracking down and pressing the opposition. Once Barca get a new goalkeeper, and have their first choice centre backs available, they should be looking much stronger in the defence.
Spot on. You can't replace top quality defenders with midfielders playing out of position. Barca have never been good away from home in Europe so the defeat isn't a surprise but it was the margin and manner of it, they were simply overrun and had no answers to Bayern's speed, power and pace. Arsenal were able to score home and away against them by being more direct. Barca's tika taka enables teams to get men behind the ball and there is no better team at defending than Bayern. Barca were clearly rattled and there was misplaced passes galore. I've said for years Piqué is average (made to look good by Puyol and also Alves to a degree). They need two top quality CB's
They are, IMO 3rd best in Europe behind Bayern and Real but with high standards comes high expectations. I honestly think any of our current top 4 could have gone to the Allianz and at least made it more difficult for Bayern last night. No team should be losing 4-0 in any leg of a semi final (bear in mind it could have been more). Barca's problems could be easily overcome if they were more direct. Look at how Laudrup developed Swansea's game. I have long said Barca are flat track bullies and if decent teams make it difficult for them they can't win. Why have Barca won only 1 of the last 8 El Clasico's? Why have Barca never beaten Chelsea 11 v 11? Why could Barca not beat PSG?
They do come across as flat track bullies. They fail to adapt to different situations, as showcased yesterday. They should have a Plan B incase Messi or their tika taka fails to penetrate an opponents backline. Although Bayern were great lastnight, some of the blame should be shouldered on the Barca manager. Where were the subs? Where was the tactical changes? You have 2 world class players on the bench and only put one on the 80th minute? The game was crying out for a more direct approach that Fabregas would have shined in. Hasn't he watched what Fabregas did for Arsenal while playing in the Prem and Champs league?
Bayern are a complete team. Barca pretty much don't need a manager 9/10 but Villanova needed to change things last night and he didn't.
I think they bought Song to be primarily a CB. They felt that he would be able to do it in the spanish league.
