Van Gaal backs Bayern´s Guardiola swoop

Louis van Gaal believes Bayern Munich have made the right choice to appoint Pep Guardiola as their new head coach.

The Bundesliga leaders announced last week Guardiola has signed a three-year deal with Bayern and will take over from Jupp Heynckes at the end of this season.

Netherlands coach and former Bayern trainer Van Gaal has endorsed the appointment of the Spaniard, who guided Barcelona to unprecedented success between 2008 and 2012.

“Guardiola’s appointment was not a surprise for me as Bayern always go for the best coaches out there. And Pep follows the Van Gaal-philosophy. I think it’s a fantastic choice,” he told NOS.

“I’m the one who first employed the formation Bayern Munich are using these days during my time at the club. (Jupp) Heynckes then continued on the same path and Pep is the right man to succeed him. Pep thinks just like Jupp and I.

“Guardiola is a really intelligent guy. He might struggle a bit with the German language, but they all understand English as well.”

Van Gaal was in charge of Bayern from 2009 until 2011 and also coached Guardiola at Barcelona.