Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer has claimed that people in Germany still do not understand the thinking behind Pep Guardiola's approach.
The champions have not suffered defeat in the Bundesliga this season and eased into the knockout stages of the Champions League, but Guardiola has still received criticism from the likes of Dietmar Hamann and Lothar Matthaus for his decision to regularly change tactics.
However, Sammer believes that the Spaniard's critics simply do not understand his philosophy, and he insists that the club are happy with the performances of the team.
"The fact that not everyone thinks everything we do is great doesn't affect our thinking," Sammer told Sport Bild. "It is not yet understood in Germany how Pep thinks.
"The system does not change to shoot the team in the foot. This idea is apparently new to German football. Bayern are happy and grateful that we have a coach like Guardiola who proves himself again and again. He is hugely influencing German football with his thinking.
"As former professionals, [Hamann and Matthaus] should ask themselves why and how does someone like Guardiola makes a footballing choice. In the end I guess they can be happy they have something to discuss. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, I only wish they were able to understand."
Bayern picked up their 13th win from 16 Bundesliga games with a 2-0 victory over Freiburg on Tuesday night.
Callum Mulvihill
