Thiago Alcântara says Bayern are still inspired by Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

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Dan Burke·24 April 2019

Thiago Alcântara says Bayern are still inspired by Pep Guardiola

Article image:Thiago Alcântara says Bayern are still inspired by Pep Guardiola

Thiago Alcântara believes the current Bayern Munich team still contains traces of Pep Guardiola’s DNA.

The current Manchester City manager won three Bundesliga titles during his three years in Munich and is credited with revamping the club’s footballing philosophy.


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And as Bayern close in on their seventh successive title, Thiago says he and his team-mates are still inspired by Guardiola’s teachings.

“He definitely left his mark at the club because he and his ideas have shaped us enormously as a team,” the 28-year-old told Goal and DAZN.

“You can feel it on the pitch. In some match situations, we still do things he taught us. But I think that we have managed to take the positives from each of our coaches and combine them.”

Article image:Thiago Alcântara says Bayern are still inspired by Pep Guardiola

It was of course Guardiola who took Thiago with him to Bayern from Barcelona, and the Spanish midfielder says his former boss has been the biggest influence on his career so far.

“Pep made it possible for me to move up from Barça’s youth academy to Barça’s first team,” he continued.

“He taught me a lot. Anyone who comes to the professional team as a young player has to learn day-by-day.

“With him as a coach, you learn much faster and with more detail. He was a great help for me from the beginning, also here at Bayern.

“He is one of the best coaches in the world, if not the best. And I’m sure he’ll give football a lot in the next few years.”

Bayern are currently top of the Bundesliga and one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund heading into their final four games of the season.

But despite the fact Niko Kovač’s side still have tricky tests to come against RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt, Thiago is confident they will end up being champions of Germany again.

“A few weeks ago, we were eight points behind Dortmund. Now we are one point ahead of them,” he added.

“I am optimistic that we will become champions again because we have become champions in the past six years and are currently in great shape.”