MUNICH: Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has denied reports that he is trying to turn the European and Bundesliga champions into a German version of his old club Barcelona.

Guardiola spoke out after Bayern made it 39 Bundesliga matches without defeat with a straightforward 2-0 victory over Eintracht Braunschweig. Dutchmen Arjen Robben scored both goals, his fifth and sixth  of the season.

“Barcelona was a super period of my life but that is my past,” said Guardiola. “When I received the offer from Bayern I decided for myself that I would like to train these players — that was the reason and that’s why I came here. So I can’t compare the philosophy of Bayern, so I have to adjust for the German culture.

“The teams here play completely different to what they play at Barcelona. Here in two, three, four seconds there are four or five players in 40 metres of our box and you have to control that and I will try to change my methodology so the players can understand me and play the best football possible.

“But it’s new, I don’t want to compare because Bayern is a huge club, it’s an enormous club, they deserve to play like their history, not like my previous club because that club is playing their way.”

The German media has poked various jibes at Guardiola this week for a perceived lack of focus, first trying to chase down a media ‘mole’ in the squad.

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