Pep to Bayern Munich Makes Plenty Of Sense.

So Guardiola decided to let the world know his next coaching destination. Some expected this decision to come in the summer, not January, but Pep is going to Germany. Although many thought he would be in the Premier League or Serie A, Pep will be heading to the Bundesliga. I always thought Bayern Munich was good fit for Pep. It appears Pep thought so too.

Bayern are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and in the world, in terms of history, financial strength and current standing as one of the powerhouses in European football. Although Barça have won two of the last four Champions League titles, Bayern played in the two other finals that Barça did not participate in, albeit they lost those two finals. So Pep is walking into a well-established team that has its house in order.

Some though are still surprised that he went to Bayern. Why? Look at the team he is going to inherit.  Pep is going to a team that has great talent and financial clout. Additionally, how many Bayern players were linked to Barça as potential transfers during Pep’s era at the club? Robben was linked to the left winger position but Madrid were not going to sell him to their arch enemy. Ribery was supposedly going to be signed by either Barça or Madrid which never happened. Lahm was linked to left back position and Mario Gomez was also one of those numerous strikers linked to the club for his aerial goal scoring capability. So if you can’t get them, join them.

Of course Pep’s problem will be communication with the players unless he picked up German and English while living in New York.  He is going to a heavy weight in the German league that can compete for a treble every season for the three years that he will be there.  It will not be a pressure free environment because the expectations at Bayern are always high, especially after what the disappointments they have been through these last three years. I also wonder if he going to tolerate having Uli Hoeness sit on the bench at home matches. I remember seeing him on the bench next to Klinsmann when Barça went to Munich for their second leg Champions League Quarter-Finals tie and it struck me as very odd and a nuisance. I doubt Pep will be tolerating that sort of thing when he’s there.

Now some wonder why didn’t Pep sign for three years when he was at Barça. Pep was hired when the club was going through some turmoil. Just a few months after it was announced that Pep would replace Rijkaard, then president Laporta survived a vote of no confidence before he was to step down a year later after his term ended. Thus, there was some uncertainty at the presidency level of the club so he wasn’t walking into a cushy job where he was going to be working with the same people for a long time. I also don’t think he was a fan of Sandro Rosell and wanted to see how things would work out with a new president and my gut feeling tells me that they didn’t see eye to eye. Perhaps, he knew staying at Barça was a very tough job and ultimately would end ugly which reminds of that great line uttered in The Dark Knight“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

Now the bigger concern is whether Pep will raid Barça for talent and only time will tell. It sure will be awkward to see him represent any other FCB except our own. He will be with them for three years and then, he will see if that Manchester United job is available. It seems that’s the job Pep has always wanted and I don’t think he was ever going to join Manchester City because Pep is not the type to upset fans and jump ship to United. Also, Chelsea’s way of handling managers probably made that job too toxic for his liking. Bayern makes sense for now. If the United job is available, Pep will go for it.It’s not going to be a cushy job because there are high expectations at the German club much like Barça Pep will be up to it and if he ever faces Barça in the future, then we’ll applaud him prior to kick off and then hope Barça beats Bayern.