PEP GUARDIOLA SAYS Bayern Munich are improving from game to game after opening a four-point lead in the Bundesliga on the back of their perfect Champions League record.
Bayern secured their second Champions League win on Tuesday with a 1-0 win at CSKA Moscow then enjoyed a 4-0 romp at home to Hanover 96 in the German league on Saturday with Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben both scoring twice.
Guardiola’s side have now not conceded a goal in their last seven games in all competitions as they look to win a third straight Bundesliga title.
“We scored four, but it could have been more. The most important thing is that every game we’re playing a little better than before.
“We’re playing more and running less, so I’m happy with that.”
Guardiola’s style hasn’t gone down too well with a number of prominent figures in the club – none more so than honorary president Franz Beckenbauer.
After last year’s champions league hammering at the hands of Real Madrid he said; ”Bayern played as expected – with a lot of possession but with no bite. We can’t win with possession if the opposition creates chances.
“In the end, it’ll be like Barcelona – unwatchable. They will pass the ball back, even on the goal line”.
Yet Guardiola is unfazed by the criticism and remains determined to continue implementing his passing style upon the German club.
“We’re happy with the result,” said the Bayern coach, who is in his second season in Munich.
“Hanover were third or fourth in the table (before kick-off) and played with five at the back, which wasn’t easy.”
Bayern were rarely troubled at home and dominated Hanover even with Thomas Mueller and World Cup winner Mario Goetze left on the bench, as well as Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger out injured.
They were 2-0 up after just 13 minutes as Lewandowski chested down a long ball and drilled his shot into the bottom corner, then Robben added a second after a trademark run through the heart of the Hanover defence.
Lewandowski netted again just seven minutes before the break after coolly controlling a Juan Bernat pass and hitting the goal’s left corner, before Robben fired home his second with 11 minutes left.
“It was a good game, we played really aggressively going forward and didn’t give our opponents a chance,” said Robben.
“Hanover only wanted to defend, but they didn’t manage to put the breaks on us. It’s nice to give our fans four goals, but we could have scored more.”
- Additional reporting by Eamon Donoghue
