Pep’s Boys Won, Yet Lost
(Pep Guardiola)
“I’ve done the best I can do,” said the Bayern Munich manager, searching for the best way to convey his feelings after his side were eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. “I don’t have any regrets. I’ve done my best and, I don’t know — that’s what I would like to say.”
–ESPN FC, Nick Ames
There is some disillusioned beer drinking occurring in Bavaria tonight.
Despite a spirited, thrilling second leg of Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid (one missed penalty by both teams at the same end shooting to the same side), the Bavarian kings could not score that necessary third goal. Though Thomas Müller had his shot/PK.
Rightly or wrongly, the fact that Pep Guardiola went 0-3 for winning the Champions League will define his mostly successful, victorious venture in Munich.
“In his first campaign he collected the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, German Cup and, with a record seven games to spare, the Bundesliga title. He secured his second successive Bundesliga title by ten points the following season…”
–UEFA
Even with all of this, Pep’s time at Bayern Munich will be viewed by many as a losing campaign. The German giants won a lot throughout the past three years, but they lost the most important games with the acclaimed Pep Guardiola as the manager.
The coaching mastermind behind Barcelona’s epic run from 2008-2012 could not defeat Spanish sides Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atlético Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals during his three years coaching Bayern Munich. If it weren’t for Mr. Guardiola’s public intention to sign with Manchester City this upcoming season, the cliché “3 strikes and you’re out” would be an aptly borrowed metaphor from the sport’s baseball counterpart.
In Pep’s case, trying to craft a winning strategy for his third consecutive Bundesliga title and a German Cup championship is what remains as achievable goals this season. For most, that would be enough. Most, however, are not named Pep Guardiola.
The expectations for Pep moving to Munich, Germany after his yearlong break following his exit from Barcelona were sky-high. Actually, if there’s a place above sky-high, that would be more appropriate.
Pep’s spell at Barcelona has been labeled as one of the greatest club teams in history with one of the best players in history being Lionel Messi. Everyone knew Pep would win in Germany, but people expected him to win everything with soccer itself gasping for air at his conquests wearing sharp suits (and lederhosen for beer drinking). Granted, Jupp Heynckes didn’t do Pep any favors by leading Bayern Munich to the prized treble (included the Champions League title) literally before his arrival in Bavaria.
Mr. Heynckes sort of served his successor a championship team on a platter.
Each coach has different tactics that require different types of players, so maybe Mr. Heynckes did or didn’t leave Pep with everything he needed. That’s a debate that will continue. In the macro, Pep’s inability to win his first season with a remarkably similar squad was disappointing, but understandable if his style of play and injection of “his” players led to a championship(s) down the road.
Sadly, those two subsequent titles never arrived, which means Bayern fans never got to enjoy the immediate or prolonged Guardiola magic in Champions League. This is a failure that will not soon be forgotten and incoming manager Carlo Ancelotti (56) will be tasked with solving this puzzle with one of the best rosters on the planet.
The young innovator makes way for the elder statesman.
Pep Guardiola was hired to win trebles. Yes, that’s trebles plural. Fair or not, that’s the truth. The pain, suffering, talent, patience, resilience and magic-in-a-bottle needed to win one treble qualifies for a lifetime of glorious storytelling and recounting in your local pub.
Just ask Jupp Heynckes.
For loyal Bayern Munich fans, like myself, the pain of today’s 2-1 win at home at the Allianz Arena in front of 75,000 fans (but 2-2 aggregate loss to Atlético Madrid) in devastatingly heart-pounding fashion will not heal for some time. The infinitely popular question, “how did they not win?” will not merely focus on this season, but will fiercely grab onto the past two seasons of mirror image outcomes and never let go.
Some may argue that Pep can finally breathe a little easier now. The German press will continue to crush him, sure, but the pressure has been eased a bit.
Quite the contrary.
If Man City pulls off a miracle and wins the Champions League this year, Pep will experience precisely the same high-pressure situation in England, except to a harsher extent. Even if Man City fails to pull off said miracle, the situation is practically identical. He won the biggest prize at Barcelona and not at Bayern Munich. That’s resulted in a knock to his other-worldly aura. If he cannot deliver the biggest prize at Man City, then it’s probably fair to anticipate another sabbatical.
Pep Guardiola is a world-class manager and a brilliant tactician, but he now finds himself in a concerning loop of Champions League semi-final shortcomings to Spanish squads.
And the only way out, at this point, looks as trying as breaking through Atlético Madrid’s back line for goal number three.
The Answer is Somewhere in Alveron
Why is Wolf Gang not a band anymore?
The British rockers seemed to be on the brink of taking their music to the next level with the first few singles off their second album “Alveron” back in the fall of 2014. But after switching labels (Warner Music UK Limited to Cherrytree Records), their comprehensive sound took a slight hit in production value on said sophomore record. That’s more a problem with the producer than the musicians. Even still, why did they breakup? Maybe it was being downgraded/choosing to go more independent that ultimately doomed the band? Perhaps an undisclosed riff between one or more band mates was simply too much?
These questions are still questions because fans were given only a solitary, ambiguous social media announcement that the Wolf Gang project was over in July of last year. That was it. End of story.
Dear Friends,
We are very sad to announce our decision to end the band. We’ve had an incredible journey; we’ve been to amazing places and met wonderful people, and all along the way we loved sharing our music with you all, but now it’s time for us to move onto other things. We want to thank each and every one of you who showed us support and enjoyed our music, you have meant a lot to us. We wish you all the best, and thanks again,
Max, James, Gav and Lasse X
So, why bring this up again now, 9 or so months later, especially when Jimmy’s Daily Planet covered this news when it happened?
Because it still makes no sense. The band was developing and growing in popularity and name recognition. However, bands breakup. It’s an all too common tale in the music industry.
Every now and again, like today, their music pops back to the front of my mind. I’m reminded not only of their talent, but their seeming promise as a band. While Wolf Gang’s future is no more, their past is alive and well if we so choose.
I’m picking alive and well.
Outside the band, nobody knows what “Alveron” really means. And since nobody really knows why the band broke up, maybe that’s a fitting legacy for remembering Wolf Gang.
Flexing for the NFL
Will not tucking in one’s shirt become the style trend of 2016 in the business world?
Maybe in Dallas.
With the fourth pick in the NFL Draft in Chicago, Illinois, the Dallas Cowboys selected Ezekiel Elliott of The Ohio State University. Widely considered as the best running back in this year’s draft class (and one of the best overall athletes), Zeke not only showed flashes of his potential to succeed at the highest level, but he excelled in highlight reel after highlight reel for the Scarlet & Grey.
He’s a baller who will be a welcome addition by teammates, fans and Jerry Jones alike down in Dallas, Texas.
Mr. Elliott’s Buckeye pal Joey Bosa was drafted at No. 3 by the San Diego Chargers and Eli Apple was drafted at No. 10 by the New York Giants. Even as the First Round continues late into the night, the aforementioned picks collectively made for a special moment in the NFL Draft.
“…and it’s never happened before: Three players from the same school in the top ten picks of the draft. Ohio State has three of them now…”
–Chris Berman, ESPN
In the coming days, more history could be made by The Ohio State University. If “The Buckeye 14” becomes reality (14 players selected from one school), then, most importantly, smug Ohio State-hater Mark May will be receiving all kinds of fun, customized merchandise from Buckeye Nation.
Perhaps Mark May will receive another shout-out from Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer as he’s on the phone signing the future “Buckeye 15.”
Jimmy’s Daily Planet will stay tuned on the potential history for the Buckeyes in the 2016 NFL Draft.
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