Wenger laughs off battle of wits with Bayern’s Guardiola
IT’S a collision between two of the most cerebral coaches in world football: Arsene Wenger’s aesthetes-to-a-fault Arsenal hosting the Champions League holders, Pep Guardiola’s perfection-turned-up-to-11 Bayern Munich.
But, for all the grey matter populating the two dugouts, Wenger believes tonight’s first leg – a repeat of last season’s last-16 tie – will hinge not on a tactical masterstroke but on a flicker of genius from one of the marquee players.
“If you look at the history of the Champions League, you will see that it’s always the big players who make the difference,” he said.
“After, the analysis is always adapted to the team that wins, but most of the time it’s the big players who make the difference on the pitch. Football is not a chess game; it belongs to the players. We as managers prepare the teams to do well, we take responsibility when it doesn’t go well but not forgetting that the main heroes are on the pitch, not on the bench.”
Given Bayern’s proliferation of potential matchwinners – Arjen Robben, Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller and Thiago – even without the injured Franck Ribery, Wenger’s analysis, like most others, makes Bayern overwhelming favourites.
They won the treble last year and former Barcelona coach Guardiola seems only to have honed them since succeeding Juup Heynckes in the summer. Their lead in the Bundesliga is currently 16 points.
Arsenal need no reminding that Bayern also eliminated them from this competition 12 months ago, having outclassed them 3-1 at Emirates Stadium. Wenger is confident, however, that this Gunners side will arrive in more robust form.
“We are in much better mental shape today than we were one year ago,” added the Frenchman, who looks set to recall England midfielder Jack Wilshere for the suspended Mikel Arteta.
“We lost against Blackburn at home in the FA Cup and it was a big disappointment for us. This time we won against Liverpool, and we are really determined to win this game.”
Wilshere admits Arsenal were “nervous” last time, when Bayern went 2-0 up within 20 minutes. “There was a lot of tension in the stadium,” he said. “Once we calmed down we took the game to them.”
Wenger’s men, too, are flying high domestically, thanks to a much improved run since their ultimately vain but nonetheless morale-boosting 2-0 second leg win in Munich last March.
He said: “It gave us belief to finish the season well and I think since the start of the season we have done well. It’s now down to us to show we can show the same focus and spirit as against Liverpool.”
LAST-16 WOE
Arsenal haven’t progressed from the last-16 since 2010-11. Here’s how.
2010-11: Joy of 2-1 win over Barcelona erased by 3-1 reverse in Spain. Arsenal won just two from next 11 games
2011-12: Humbled 4-0 in Milan, they rallied to win 3-0 at home, triggering a run of five victories in six
2012-13: Soundly beaten at home, Arsenal beat complacent Bayern in Germany and went out only on away goals. Proved a boost to form