The David Alaba story: How Pep Guardiola improved Europe’s best player who plays out of position

Many fans may have wondered what Pep Guardiola’s plan of action would be at Bayern Munich this season; he had big boots to fill after Jupp Heynckes picked up a historic treble in his final season with the German giants.

The former Barcelona man, who took so much credit for their rise in modern football, hasn’t wasted anytime in making the spot his own though and has already seen improvements in certain areas of the team.

Bayern’s season so far in summary

During his time at Barcelona, a trademark move of his was a faultless ability in adapting players into new formations, positions and systems. Javier Mascherano, Andres Iniesta and, famously, Lionel Messi all flourished in new positions handed to them by the tinkering Spaniard.

Some would argue that he was forced into these changes through injuries and a lack of depth during his time at Barcelona, but that doesn’t take away the discipline and faith he showed in his players in order to get the best performances possible from them.

This has continued in the early stages of his career in the Bundesliga with several key players such as Javi Martinez, Mario Gotze and Thiago Alcantara all spending long spells in the treatment room.

These injuries have seen Guardiola put together a makeshift midfield for most of the current campaign, with Philipp Lahm standing out in his new role. It isn’t just the changes that have been forced upon Guardiola that have been a success though, with Bayern finally finding an heir to Bixente Lizarazu in the remarkably talented David Alaba.

Alaba came to prominence last season, but despite featuring regularly at left-back he was still considered as a central midfielder by the Bayern hierarchy.

This season however, Guardiola has turned the 21-year old into one of the best left-backs in European football and with a mass of players fighting for places in Bayern’s midfield it looks like that’s where he will be staying.

It isn’t a decision that has been made lightly by Guardiola; Alaba plays in midfield for the Austria national team and has shone in what is considered his most natural role, scoring six goals in 30 caps.

However, Guardiola’s love for attacking full-backs that find space behind the opposition defence has seen the former Hoffenheim loanee continue the role he shone in towards the end of last season. His importance is most prominent when Bayern come up against a title rival, and as you can tell from the following Heat Maps, Alaba has been told to get forward whenever possible and surprise the opposition.

This suits the way Guardiola likes to play and their possession percentage has risen by 5% (63%) compared to last season. Controlling the game allows Alaba to get in behind more and be less vulnerable to conceding, but when the opposition does break through, you have the ever-present Lahm to fill in.

The pair has a similar relationship to that of Sergio Busquets and Dani Alves at Barcelona where the Brazilian right back was allowed to venture forward at will with the knowledge that Guardiola’s holding midfield player would be there to sweep up.

Alaba’s rise under the former Spain playmaker is underlined by the amount of chances he has created so far this season compared to last – 11 already despite only creating 14 in the whole of the last campaign. His take-on percentage sits at 100% after making all 10 of the ones he has attempted so far in the Bundesliga and a massive improvement on his take on figures from last season (47%).

David Alaba’s season in summary

His ability to track back and defend when need is something that must affect Guardiola’s decision to allow him to get forward whenever possible. Alaba’s dominance in the tackle saw him post an 85% success rate last season and 83% this, showing his willingness to help out in defence when needed.

Although he may see his future at the heart of Bayern’s midfield, his versatility and professionalism means he made the left-back spot his own towards the end of last season despite it not being his favoured position. He has gone on to blossom under Guardiola in a more advanced role this season, one that compliments his natural attacking ability.