Bayern can become the Spain of club football: Lahm

Bayern Munich can dominate European club football under new coach Pep Guardiola as Spain have done at international level, according to Bayern captain Philipp Lahm.

Lahm told the daily newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung that despite becoming the first German side to do the treble of the domestic double and the Champions League under Jupp Heynckes, it was merely the beginning of an era.

“The best years are yet to come. The team will be strengthened and now we have the arrival of Pep Guardiola, another world class coach,” said the 29-year-old fullback, who apart from a two year stint with VfB Stuttgart from 2003-05 has spent his whole career with Bayern.

“He will add something extra, though, of course that is not to underplay the role played by Jupp Heynckes.

“Under Guardiola we can become the Spain of club football, a team that can win titles over several years,” added Lahm, referring to Spain winning two Euro titles and a World Cup from 2008-2012.

Lahm, who has won nearly a 100 caps and is a veteran of two World Cups and three Euros, said that the basis for dominating club football was already there at the club with the core group of players.

“We have really good senior players, with great temperament, an excellent mentality and almost all the contracts are of a long duration,” said Lahm, whose own contract runs till 2016.

Bayern ran away with the title, having lost out to Borussia Dortmund in the two preceding seasons, beat Dortmund 2-1 in the Champions League final and rounded off their treble by beating VfB Stuttgart 3-2 in the German Cup final.