How Thiago Alcantara will feature in Pep Guardiolas system at Bayern Munich?

European Champions Bayern Munich have officially unveiled the Barcelona prodigy Thiago
Alcantara today following a transfer for a reported fee of 25 million.

The 22-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League Champions
Manchester United, as he looked for regular first team opportunities and while the Red Devils
were ready to activate his 18 million release clause; the lure of working with his mentor, Pep
Guardiola meant that the Barcelona man snubbed the Premier League champions in favour of
the German outfit.
It is understood that Peps assurances to the Spaniard, that he would be given regular first
team opportunities at the Bavarian club, has sealed the deal in favour of the European
champions. Here we take a look at some of the possible formations Pep might use to
accommodate his new signing.
Last season, Jupp Heynckes used several formations depending upon the opposition and
availability of his own players. But mostly the game plan of the Bavarians centred on the 4-23-1 system.
Bayern fielded the reliable back-four of Lahm, Dante, Boateng and Badstuber, till mid of
October before Badstuber got injured and was replaced by David Alaba.
Likewise, in the midfield, Luiz Gustavo and Bastian Schweinsteiger formed a formidable duo
until the Brazilian got injured in the month of November, which forced him out into the
sidelines for a long period of time, while he was swiftly replaced by the newcomer Javi
Martinez.
In the typical 4-2-3-1 formation, the dynamic Toni Kroos was deployed in behind the lone
striker Mandzukic, while Muller and Ribery drifted wide on the right and left side

respectively. Often Kroos was replaced by young Shaqiri while Arjen Robben replaced
Muller, depending upon the opposition.

4-2-3-1 formation deployed by Jupp Heynckes

Now, with the arrival of Guardiola and subsequently two new players Mario Gotze and
Thiago Alcantara, expect a tweak in the system and formation.
Should Guardiola revert back to his favourite 4-3-3 formation, it is likely that the Spaniard
would switch to the Barcelona model here. He might use Schweinsteiger in the Sergio
Busquets role, Thiago as a regista in the mould of Xavi and Kroos in a more attacking role,
akin to the Iniesta role. For this, he will have to push back Martinez in the centre back role to
accommodate his fellow compatriot.

4-3-3 formation involving Thiago and Gotze

In that situation Ribery, Muller and Gotze will take up the front three, with the former
Borussia Dortmund player, playing in the false 9 position.

This is the one of the possible ways he can accommodate Thiago and Gotze in the side,
without altering their natural position.
Meanwhile, plenty of alterations are likely to be in the store, as Pep will have to rotate the
squad in order to accommodate so many stars. Thereby, Gustavo/Martinez and
Schweinsteiger may form the partnership in a 4-2-3-1 formation too at some point of the
season. Having said that, I am not discarding the possibility of using Thiago alongside the
German maestro as well.
It should not be a problem though as both the players are technically brilliant and can
compliment each other nicely, provided their roles are shared accordingly.
Guardiola may also use the flexible 3-4-2-1 formation to optimise the effect Thiago and
Gotze can have on the team. In fact, it would suit Bayern perfectly with Martinez forming a
defensive trio with Dante and Badstuber, where he will play as a ball playing defender or
perhaps an advanced Sweeper, while the roles of other two are more limited.

Pep can also use the flexible 3-4-2-1

Lahm and Alaba can play higher up the pitch in this formation, but will drop deep to help the
defence. Kroos and Ribery will have space to roam about and can drift inside too, allowing
Gotze to play as the false 9. The system could easily be transformed into 3-4-3 depending on
the situation of the game, where Gotze could drop deep helping the midfielders.

3-4-2-1 can be transformed into 3-4-3

Further the three players upfront blessed with versatility can easily interchange the positions,
making it almost impossible for the opposition to man-mark any particular individual.
This could be a very balanced formation and Pep has used the system previously with
Barcelona. Thiago could pull the strings from his usual regista position, beside
Schweinsteiger, who will act here as a midfield-volante.

4-1-4-1 formation Guardiola may implement

Pep has also used in past, the 4-1-4-1 system. In such a scenario, hoping Martinez to play as a
centre-back, then Schweinsteiger could be used as a deep-lying holding midfielder. And a
quartet of Kroos/ Shaqiri, Gotze, Muller/Robben and Ribery can form an attacking cloud just
behind Mandzukic. However, Thiago probably will miss out in such a rigid system.
However, irrespective of how Peps Bayern line up next season, excitement and innovations
are just about guaranteed with Pep Guardiola at the helm. What will be most intriguing is

how Guardiola incorporates his disciplinary philosophies within Bayerns game without
sacrificing certain aspects of the German champions.