'Robben is a gift for me' - Guardiola backs Bayern winger

Posted Friday, July 05, 2013 by Goal.com

The new coach hinted that Mario Gomez may yet have a future at the Allianz Arena and said he wants his new team to try to carry on with their form from last season

Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola has stuck by Arjen Robben and Mario Gomez amid rumours that the pair could be destined to leave this summer.

Robben has been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena since Guardiola was named as Jupp Heynckes' successor in January, while Mario Gomez has been heavily associated with a switch to Fiorentina, though the Serie A side insist they cannot afford him.

Guardiola made it clear that he is happy to have the wantaway German striker around his squad and had high praise for the Dutch winger, who he called a "gift".

"Mario Gomez is here with us because he is a Bayern player and he will train tomorrow," he told reporters in a press conference on Thursday. "I have worked with him this week and he’s been very professional.

"Robben is a gift for me, he’s a very intelligent player.

"My first week in Munich has been very good in terms of training and getting to know the players. We’ve all learned a lot. The players and club have helped me out a lot. They’ve helped me with the language and shown me a lot of support.

"I have a lot of plans, I have been using this period to learn where and how each player can play, and I will keep trying things out."

Although the Spaniard will avoid altering the treble-winning team's tactics too much, the love of possession that Guardiola showed at Barcelona remains evident and he says he intends to tinker with the formula somewhat heading into the new season.

"I don't like my opponents to have the ball," he added. "I want the ball for my team. Jupp Heynckes did an amazing job and it’s my job to keep up what he did.

"The team have a very intelligent style of play, they’ve won the Champions League and been in three finals in four years. Obviously, I just have a few ideas of what I want to add to the team to make them improve. The fans pay good money for tickets and we want to repay them by scoring goals.

"We have various systems of play. I’ve made plans to play with a striker and with a ‘false nine’. Both options work for me."

Guardiola is not concerned that it will be almost impossible to improve on last year's rampant success in every competition that Bayern entered, but he says he is adamant he can keep the German giants triumphing in his tenure.

"We need to look to the future and think about what we can win next. We won’t look back, the best clubs, like Barca, AC Milan and Bayern never have done," he continued.

"We have to win, win and win. Of course, we will make mistakes. My job is to make sure those mistakes aren't repeated. I’m not worried about needing time, but this is not the ideal place to not win. We have to work well right from the off."