Guardiola has improved Bayern, says Ribery

Franck Ribery has hailed coach Pep Guardiola for making an all-conquering Bayern Munich team “even stronger”.

The German giants completed an unprecedented treble under Jupp Heynckes last season, winning the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League and DFB-Pokal.

Former Barcelona coach Guardiola therefore had a hard act to follow when succeeding Heynckes ahead of the current campaign, yet Bayern have continued to enjoy consistent success.

As well as opening up a seven-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga by winning 14 out of 16 matches prior to the mid-season break, Bayern have added the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup trophies to their roll of honour.

And Ribery, who is on the three-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, feels Guardiola deserves great credit for his efforts.

“I think that when the coach arrived at Bayern, it was not an easy situation for him as we had already won all the possible trophies,” said the France international.

“But our coach is very experienced and proved himself while he was with Barcelona. He has won many titles and knows football like very few people do.

“During the last six months, the coach and us, together, we have done well.

“Our level was already very high last year but we are even stronger since his arrival.

“We are enjoying ourselves on the pitch and you can see it.

“I am really happy as we have won new titles and we feel that we will win many more with him.”