Guardiola warned to keep talking at Bayern

Bayern Munich’s new coach Pep Guardiola has been warned to keep communication with his new team open as the Spaniard prepares to take charge of the Champions League winners.

Ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola, 42, will hold his first press conference on Monday, then take charge of his first training session next Wednesday.

Bayern have switched next week’s training sessions from their usual complex to Munich’s Allianz Arena with capacity for 25,000 fans to cope with the demand of fans eager to watch their idols.

But Hans-Dieter Hermann, the German national football team’s psychologist, has told German weekly Die Zeit that the new boss must keep channels of communication open with his new side.

Hermann recommends that Guardiola “communicates a lot. He should speak to each player individually, get to know him personally and build up mutual trust”.

“But from what I have heard, Guardiola is very smart and already very communicative.

“He will not want to immediately changes things, but will implement his ideas step-by-step.”

Even before he takes office, the pressure on Guardiola is considerable after his predecessor, Jupp Heynckes, steered the team to an historic treble of European, league and cup titles.

No other German team has achieved the feat while in the Bundesliga, Bayern broke or equalled a staggering 25 German league records, dropping just 11 points all season.

“The special thing about the situation is that the team with Jupp Heynckes was very successful and now, after winning the triple, they have to switch to a new coach,” said Hermann.

“Every change made, if they don’t win with the same domination, will see him immediately compared to his predecessor.”

With Bayern having reached three Champions League finals in the last four years, Hermann says the Bayern team are under pressure to match their success as the 2014 World Cup looms.

“The expectation on the guys is huge and has risen significantly in recent years,” added Hermann, pointing specifically to social media, when the players can read direct comments from fans.

“Rapidly spread insinuations and personally insulting remarks do not escape the players’ attention or their families.”

Bayern’s Germany wing Thomas Mueller has called Hermann a “godsend” within the national squad, because he is “open and has an integrating effect, also away from the field”.

“He brings a lot to the team with his cheerful and positive manner.

“Simultaneously, he is eager to learn, but is also sensitive.”

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