Following the appointment of the former Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola by Bayern Munich on the back of his one year break from football it seems a good time to analyse and provide a preview as to how Munich may change from the reign of Jupp Heynckes - a period in which Bayern won the treble. Under Heynckes Bayern played in a 4-2-3-1 formation with the team often reading as follows: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Van Buyten, Alaba, Martinez, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Muller, Ribery, Mandzukic. The role of one player in particular in this line-up is very unconventional - this player being Mario Mandzukic. Under Heynckes - Mandzukic didn't operate as a standard striker in the mould of a Robin Van Persie. In fact his primary duty in the team wasn't that of a standard striker, he was actually a defensive weapon. Mandzukic effectively operated as a battering ram, by providing high energy pressing to stop the oppositions defenders from playing the ball out, meaning that Bayern won the ball higher up the pitch and could build their attacks in the opponents half. Now in theory this type of energetic, high pressing forward would be extremely valuable to the team under the new regime of Guardiola, as he used a high pressing 4-3-3 at Barcelona, with similar highly energised players such as Samuel Eto'o revelling under Pep. However as his Barcelona team evolved, the need for more technically gifted players became more prominent, however the work rate and pressing of the forwards certainly didn't decrease. Samuel Eto'o departed and Lionel Messi became the team's primary central forward, providing both high technical ability, but also excellent work rate. This is when the role of the 'false 9' really came to the forefront of modern day tactics in football. The false 9 is a player who is known as a striker, but often drifts into deep positions and has the ability to instigate the play from deep. Judging from pre seasons friendlies, it seems that Guardiola is again using a false nine, however this time in a 4-1-4-1'ish formation. So far in pre season this player has been Arjen Robben, who has all the technical ability of a Guardiola false 9, but perhaps not the work rate of one. This is where the new signing of Mario Gotze from rivals Borussia Dortmund comes in, it is thought that when Gotze gets back to full fitness and is playing regularly that he will be playing at the peak of Guardiola's system. Whilst Gotze has rarely played here before, he possesses all the technical, physical and mental abilities to perform in the role of a false 9. So to answer the question, it seems that Mandzukic may not be able to force his way into Pep's thinking, this not being due to his Mental or Physical abilities, but more due to his lack of the technical abilities that are needed to play a part in the Guardiola's sysyem.