Pep Guardiola is assessing his options should he have to leave his position as Bayern Munich coach at the end of this season. The unexpected development in an already complex market for elite managers comes amidst aggressive criticism of the double Champions League winner's part in Bayern's 5-0 aggregate exit from this season's competition.
Among the limited number of jobs under consideration is the vacancy at Manchester United and a possible opening at Arsenal should Arsene Wenger depart. In France, Paris Saint-Germain's Qatari owners are yet to sign off on a new contract for Laurent Blanc, and Claudio Ranieri is under severe pressure at similarly high-spending AS Monaco.
While Guardiola's job is not said to be under immediate threat, a further embarrassing loss to Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final on May 17 would see Bayern's hierarchy reassess his first year in the job. The Catalan was set an initial target of following last season's treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup by reaching the last four of the European Cup and retaining the German title, both of which he has achieved.
However, the humiliating and comprehensive manner of Tuesday's 4-0 home loss to Real Madrid, coupled with several sub-standard performances since the Bundesliga was retained at record speed, have drawn an internal critique of Guardiola's switch to the tactical system he refined at Barcelona. "Bayern is not right,” said honorary club president Franz Beckenbauer. “This is something that we have known for weeks. From August until the season restarted a few weeks ago, they played at the highest level and with maximum concentration. Then began a period of weakness and poor concentration that lasts until now."
Beckenbauer is no fan of the style of play Guardiola developed at Barcelona, labeling the coach's former team “unwatchable” and arguing that “possession doesn't mean anything when your opponents create the better chances." Guardiola's Bayern averaged 64 percent possession across the two legs against Madrid yet were held goalless in both. Though the former Germany captain and coach is now peripheral to the day-to-day running and strategy of the club, Beckenbauer's words are said to have upset Guardiola, who has grown tired of board members commenting publicly on his team.
Guardiola spurned approaches from Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea to agree a lucrative three-year contract with Bayern during the winter of his 2012-13 sabbatical season. At the time, neither the club nor the Catalan expected Jupp Heynckes to deliver both the Champions League and the Bundesliga, significantly complicating his succession the following summer.
United are again in the market for a manager, and although they have held extensive discussions with Louis van Gaal about succeeding David Moyes, the Netherlands national team coach was not their preferred choice for the job. Guardiola is both a better fit to criteria the Glazer family has drawn up for the appointment and of significantly greater marketing appeal to Ed Woodward, the club's commercial-minded executive vice-chairman. On Monday, though, United briefed media to expect Van Gaal's appointment next week.
Asked about the vacancy at Old Trafford ahead of the first League semifinal with Madrid, Guardiola distanced himself from it. “I am here,” he said. “I am Bayern, and I want to stay two more years to finish my job. We won the Bundesliga, but I feel the team can improve and make better. I know perfectly the style of the Spanish League and to change to Germany was not easy for me, and I need more time to feel this is really my team.”
The 43-year-old's exploration of options away from Bayern may ultimately act as a political move, serving to increasing pressure on the club to allow him to restructure the playing squad. Guardiola would like to exchange some of Bayern's established figures for individuals more receptive to a strategic approach that has become easier to counter since his last season at Camp Nou.
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