Breitner endorses Guardiola to Bayern

Former Germany international Paul Breitner has hailed Pep Guardiola’s decision to snub the English Premier League and join Bayern Munich.

Ex Barcelona coach Guardiola will take over at Bundesliga champions Bayern in the off-season, dashing Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s hopes of luring him to Stamford Bridge.

And Breitner, who played for Bayern in two spells between 1970-1974 and 1978-1983, believes Guardiola was right to opt for the Allianz Arena as his next coaching post.

“Where would a coach like Guardiola go after Barcelona? He could’ve gone to Paris Saint-Germain, to (AC) Milan, to Inter (Milan), to the Premier League,” Breitner was quoted as saying by ESPN.

“But why would he want to go to a club where a Russian oligarch would tell him what to do? Or where he’d have a rich Qatari family in the power? He chose the only serious club. He chose the right club. He chose Bayern Munchen.”

Guardiola won three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies during his four years in charge at Camp Nou among a host of other honours, and Breitner believes Bayern have landed one of the best coaches in the world.

“It was very easy for us (Bayern) to decide to go for Guardiola,” he said.

“He’s amongst the two or three best coaches in the world.

“We thought, before we try anyone else, we should try the best first.

“The worst that could happen is that he might’ve said no. But since the beginning he showed a lot of interest in our approach and in Bayern Munchen. He was excited.”