2018-06-09 14:21
Pep Guardiola (Supplied)
Cape Town – Mario Gotze has revealed that he endured an uneasy relationship with former boss Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, accusing him of lacking empathy.
Gotze controversially signed for Bayern from rivals Borussia Dortmund in 2013, only to return to his old club after three years playing under Guardiola.
Although he had high praise for the current Manchester City boss's technical ability, he felt Guardiola could have related to him better.
"Pep Guardiola was technically one of the best coaches, a tremendous enrichment. But I had the feeling that he thinks only in the grid and leaves out the people and the outside," Gotze claimed during the DAZN documentary 'Being Mario Gotze'.
"The empathy was not that big. It was not easy for me, just because I came from Kloppo [Jurgen Klopp], who was like a footballing father.
"Pep was a complete difference. A world-class coach needs empathy, every athlete is also human and you should combine both."
In reflection, the attacking midfielder has mixed feelings about his transfer to Bayern.
"I did not think so far, on what it meant and how people react on it," he said.
"When I look back, it can be said that it was selfish, but in the end, it is also a competitive sport."
