Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has leapt to the defence of coach Pep Guardiola's system, which has come in for much criticism since the holders' elimination from the Champions League by Real Madrid last week.
Bayern won the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup last year under the now-retired Jupp Heynckes.
Guardiola came in at the start of this season and implemented a new formation and more patient, possession-based passing style, but while Bayern dominated the ball against Real, they were cut to shreds on the counter-attack in a humiliating 5-0 aggregate defeat.
"With Pep Guardiola, we showed throughout two-thirds of the season that we could have our own style of play that is very effective, precise and dangerous in attack, and, yes, like Barcelona, have lots of possession of the ball," Lahm told Wednesday's edition of weekly newspaper Sport Bild.
"And that's the style we're going to continue working on."
Lahm insisted there was never a case of trying to become the second coming of Guardiola's Barcelona team that won the Champions League in 2009 and 2011, while adding that despite their Real defeat, they had nonetheless "controlled and beaten great teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea".
Source: AFP
