The one chance Dortmund had of beating Bayern, a much weaker Dortmund that has been seen in previous years, was for Pep go ahead with his high line and pretty much bend over whilst the yellow and black boys kept threading those balls through.
But maybe he has learned.
Pep took a little scroll out of Allegri's handbook, and focused on defending, shut out Dortmund and when the chance presented itself, Lewandowski was there to put it away....against his old club.
What makes a really great coach is one that knows how to adapt. One that does not just remains happy being in the same place and not progressing, but is actually willing to tweak things, and adjust setups all in the name of winning. Because that is what coaches are paid for. Not to play pretty football, but to WIN. And when you are the coach of Bayern with a squad such as their own, then it's about winning every damn trophy that is available.
Klopp I am afraid is a man who has a serious case of Wengeritis. He just does not know how to make his team play any other way apart from the high-risk and tempo passing. It is GREAT when it works, and it's really some of the best football you can find in the world to watch...when it works and when a team ALLOWS them to do so. But when Juventus or Bayern make it difficult for them to do so, force them to have to think about what to do with the ball, that is where they look like a team lost in the forest and woods and looking for their candy.
Bayern on the other hand, made the game ugly and slower. Just like Juventus, they stopped Dortmund from getting into any kind of boogie-down. Fouls, stops, little niggles here and there did more to frustrate and ANNOY Dortmund than Bayern. Because for Munchen, all they needed was that opportunity to present itself. Based on the quality of their players, they can easily score when their backs are to the wall, or when they are not supposed to. And when the chance came, and the rebound fell to the Pole, it was a simple finish for him into an empty net, and that rusty knife was twisted just a little further into the hearts of the poor Dortmund fans....who actually need to learn some respect and APPLAUD the dude that won their COUNTRY the World Cup.
This is a great victory for Pep as they prepare for the trophy that was brought to Germany to win. As FC Porto wait, Bayern have shown that they can play and manage and win without their best players, one of which is one the elites in the world. But it is the defensive display that I saw that makes them now a VERY dangerous team. If they can bring this mentality to Real Madrid, if they do meet, it won't be the same story as it was last season. I just wish more teams actually trained more on defending on the training pitches and perhaps you would not see these stupid and quite offensive scorelines that make this game of football feel like some playground scrap with smoking teletubbies.
PREACH DEFENCE....WHEN IS NEEDED!
HH
