Former Germany winger Bastian Schweinsteiger says Pep Guardiola shares blame for the national team's decline, telling talkSPORT that Germany lost its values because of the Spanish coach.
'When Pep Guardiola joined Bayern Munich, when he came to the country, everyone believed we have to play this kind of football, like short passes and everything.
'We were kind of losing our values,' Schweinsteiger toldĀ talkSPORT on Thursday.
Schweinsteiger, who works as a TV pundit, played under Guardiola for two seasons at Bayern following the former Barcelona coach's arrival in Munich in 2013.
Schweinsteiger left the club in 2015, while Guardiola left for Manchester City in 2016.
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'I think most of the other countries were looking at Germany as a fighter, we can run until the end and everything. The strengths got lost through the last seven, eight years. We forgot about that and were more focused on playing the ball nicely to each other. That's one of the reasons,' Schweinsteiger said of Germany's decline since 2016.
Joachim Low was Germany coach at the time, having led the team to the World Cup title in 2014 with Schweinsteiger playing a key role.
Germany reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 but has disappointed at major tournaments since. Germany flopped with a group stage exit at the 2018 World Cup, reached only the second round of Euro 2020, and was knocked out in the group stage again at the World Cup last year.
Under Low's replacement, Hansi Flick, Germany won only three of its 11 games last season.
The team was whistled by its own fans during and after its last game - a 2-0 loss at home to Colombia last month - and confidence is low before the country hosts Euro 2024 next year.
Meanwhile, Guardiola has been enjoying success with City, leading the Abu Dhabi-backed club to its first Champions League title last season.
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Rumawa
476
But when Pep was bayern coach, Germany won WC in 2014. How can u blame him for ur failures? Pep spent only 3 years in Germany and now almost 8 years past, if u can't correct his "so-called mistake" and put it house in order in those years u should be blaming urselves. Hater!
lebabirtz
352
Tell them. Everyone wants to pick on Pep even when they know he is the best. The stats speak for themselves. 2010 and 2014 world cup Victor's were his products. Yet, someone blames him for Germany's decline. Shameless!
MatiChishimba
236
How shameful are you. Germany won the World Cup 2014, when Pep was manager of Bayern, while you were the captain of both Bayern and Germany. Remember, the majority of the line-up consisted of Bayern vice versa Spain, who won the World Cup 2010 when Pep was coach of Barcelona when the starting lineup consisted of 90% Barcelona players During this period, Germany and Spain played the most beautiful game in the world. Be grateful and appreciate Pep for his genius. English football league has also revolved since he went to England.