DPA/Berlin
The only question for Bayern Munich now is “will he or won’t he?”
After moving a step closer to a record fourth straight Bundesliga title with another demonstration of strength in the Allianz Arena, Bayern hope they have done enough on the pitch at least to persuade coach Pep Guardiola to commit to the club with a new contract.
The 44-year-old Spaniard again deflected questions about extending his current deal, which ends at the end of the season, but club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge spoke of “a Christmas present” after talks in the winter break.
“I’m relaxed, as is the coach,” he said. “We’ll discuss it after the first half of the campaign. We’ll then come to a decision and we’ll announce it, whatever the outcome.”
Guardiola has spoken of the team now being his own in his third season in Munich after feeling for the first two years that it still belonged to his predecessor Jupp Heynckes.
The 4-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart Saturday, with all four goals coming in the first half, takes Bayern on to a record 34 out of 36 points at the top of the Bundesliga.
It was yet another impressive performance in a season so far dominated by the Bavarians - and Rummenigge feels that now that Guardiola now has his signature on the side he will now want to continue the project.
“What the team is delivering here week in week out - you don’t need any more arguments in favour of Bayern,” Rummenigge said.
Guardiola made four changes to the team that thrashed Arsenal 5-1 in the Champions League midweek, with Joshua Kimmich, Rafinha, Arjen Robben and Arturo Vidal returning in place of Philipp Lahm, Javi Martinez, Thiago and Xabi Alonso.
Defender Holger Badstuber meanwhile made an appearance in another boost for Bayern when he came off the bench in the 59th minute for Thomas Mueller for his comeback following injury after exactly 200 days on the sidelines.
It was one-way traffic from the start from a team that has now scored 28 goals in their last six home matches in the league and Champions League. Bayern had 21 shots in the first half and 33 in all, while enjoying 74.3 ball possession to 25.70 per cent.
“I like teams with this mentality,” Guardiola said. “Many thanks to my players. It’s difficult to play with this mentality every three days.
“So far they’ve done very well in all competitions. I hope our players return in good health from international duty so we can keep up this mentality until the Christmas break.”
While there were smiles all round in Munich, Wolfsburg were left frustrated after a 2-0 defeat at Mainz and an unfortunate red card for midfielder Julian Draxler in the 14th minute.
The Germany international caught Gonzalo Jara with his foot high while attempting to bring down a ball over his shoulder, but with his eye on the ball he probably did not see the Mainz player.
“The red card was a a very, very hard decision,” keeper Diego Benaglio said. “You could see Julian is turning and can’t see the opponent.”
File picture of Bayern Munich’s Spanish head coach Pep Guardiola.
