Guardiola ruined German football - Bastian Schweinsteiger

Former German captain Bastian Schweinsteiger criticises Pep Guardiola's influence on German football and its subsequent downfall

Former Bayern Munich star Bastian Schweinsteiger has put the German national team decline on Pep Guardiola's time at Bayern Munich. (Photo credit: GOAL)

Bastian Schweinsteiger, a former captain of Germany, claimed Pep Guardiola was partially to blame for the team's demise, telling reporters that Spain's approach to coaching during his time in the German Bundesliga caused Germany to lose some of its principles.

"When Pep Guardiola first arrived in the nation and joined Bayern Munich, everyone thought we had to play this style of football, with quick passes and everything. 

In certain ways, we were letting our ideals go, Schweinsteiger admitted on Thursday.

Guardiola coached Schweinsteiger for two seasons at Bayern when the Spanish coach moved to Munich in 2013. Bastian Schweinsteiger now serves as a TV analyst. 

Guardiola departed for the Etihad in 2016, while Schweinsteiger left the club in 2015.

Under Guardiola, the Bavarians enjoyed a trophy-laden run that included three Bundesliga championships, two German Cups, and a Club World Cup. 

But in each of their three seasons under Guardiola, the Bavarians were eliminated in the Champions League semifinals.

"I believe that the majority of the other nations viewed Germany as a fighter, one that could continue fighting to the bitter end. Over the past seven or eight years, the advantages have diminished. We didn't think about it because we were more concerned with playing the ball well with each other.

That is one of the causes of Germany's downfall since 2016, according to Schweinsteiger. 

When Germany won the World Cup in Rio, did anyone in the audience ask Schweinsteiger who Bayern's coach was?

Germany was coached at the time by Joachim Löw, who had previously guided his squad to the World Cup championship in 2014, with Schweinsteiger playing a crucial part. 

Germany played in the semifinals of the 2016 Euros but has subsequently struggled in big competitions.

Germany struggled, losing in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, making it only as far as the second round of Euro 2020, and losing in the group stage of the World Cup last year.

Last season, Germany won just three of their 11 games under Hansi Flick, who replaced Löw. 

Because their own supporters jeered them during and after a 2-0 home loss to Colombia last month, the team's morale is low before the country hosts Euro 2024 the following year.

Guardiola has had success with City in the meantime, helping the team sponsored by Abu Dhabi win the FA Cup and the Premier League five times in a row in addition to their first Champions League victory last season.