News analysis: Supercup defeat leaves Guardiola no extra space to breathe

A narrow defeat in the 2015 German Supercup final on Saturday is far from a catastrophe for Bayern Munich. But losing 6-5 (1-1/0-0) on penalties to the 2015 German Cup winner VfL Wolfsburg will force Bayern to quickly find answers to some explosive issues.

Will coach Pep Guardiola leave at the end of the season after three years? Who will be his successor and will the Spaniard manage to give Bayern a farewell present by winning this season's Champions League?

Arjen Robben (49th - assist Lewandowski) and Nicklas Bendtner (89th - assist De Bruyne) scored the goals in the 90 minutes. Xabi Alonso missed his penalty in the following shoot out while Bayern newcomers Arturo Vidal and Douglas Costa converted comfortably after a good first appearance. An early title would have enabled Guardiola to gain some extra space to breathe and work with less pressure, at least during the next weeks.

While Wolfsburg, in a 4-2-3-1 system, has developed into a serious rival for Bayern in a 4-1-4-1 system with Philipp Lahm as right back on the national stage, Bayern and Guardiola took the Supercup game especially serious, despite the fact that the game was showcased as a curtain raiser to attract fans for the upcoming season.

Now Wolfsburg has sharpened its image as a so-called "Bayern hunter" and Guardiola will have to live with a first setback as his team failed to prove that they can still keep their national rivals under control.

Guardiola lost his third Supercup final in a row. And Bayern failed to win the third penalty shootout within a few month and seems to develop a little penalty problem. Bayern (and Guardiola) seem to have lost their "winning mentality" when it comes to tight games despite having more possession against Wolfsburg.

"We were the better and game controlling team, we had them under control, despite the result today," said Bayern's keeper and 2014 World Champion Manuel Neuer.

"I am disappointed and upset," Bayern striker Robben said.

And Jerome Boateng accused his teammates not to be concentrated enough.

While Guardiola will have to make up his mind within the half year, Bayern will consider a club life without the Spaniard. One name seems to be part of the discussion of Munich's bosses no matter when the important topic is on the club's agenda: Former Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp. The 48 year old is currently taking a break after stepping down at the end of the season. German football pundits like former German international Stefan Effenberg expects Guardiola to leave after three years and suggests Bayern is intensively thinking about Klopp as Guardiola's successor.

According to rumors, Manchester City placed another (until now secret) offer for Guardiola. The 44-year-old Spaniard recently said, "Three years at a big club" would be an "extremely long time". And he emphasized that he will take his time to decide. Bayern' s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge made clear that Bayern would love to keep Guardiola. Other than in the month before, Rummenigge meanwhile says that life will "go on after Pep" and that his club will be ready for that situation.

Besides the club praising his work, despite not being able to win the Champions League, Guardiola seems to be annoyed by critical comments about his work left by the German media and some people involved at the club.

After Schweinsteiger left for "ManU", Guardiola was accused to jeopardize Bayern's image as a German club and turn it into a Spanish one with a too much crowded midfield section as half of Bayern's squad are midfielders.

"Bayern will always be a German club. Now and in 100 years," said Guardiola. And he said that he does not intend to be "the problem of Bayern" what made rumors about his departure more intense.

This season Guardiola will stay and make a third attempt at winning the Champions League and to set a new club record by winning a fourth consecutive league title. No German club has managed to win four titles in a row.

To be less dependent on the duo of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben Bayern, they signed Douglas Costa (30 million Euro) and Arturo Vidal (37 million). While Costa replaced injured Ribery from the kick-off, Vidal was sent on the pitch in the second half.

The two new signings are a clear sign of Bayern's increasing efforts to win the Champions League (with Guardiola) and be more competitive when it comes to duels with Europe's big clubs like FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea. Last season Bayern had problems after Ribery and Robben were sidelined due to injuries.

As Bayern has set its sights on winning Europe's major club competition and in solving its coach problem, Wolfsburg is fighting to keep its shining star Kevin de Bruyne, who only days ago was elected "Footballer of the Year" in Germany in 2015. The 24-year old Belgian is reported to be on the list of Premiere League club Manchester City. Rumors report that the English club is prepared to pay 100 million for one of the Bundesliga' s best.

De Bruyne holds last season's top rating for goal assists (21). For now Wolfsburg's managing director Klaus Allofs said: "We don't intend to let Kevin De Bruyne go. We're an ambitious club that wants to play a role in international football in the future. Kevin plays a vital role in our future."

By the way: Bayern Munich is one of the clubs that is keen to get Kevin de Bruyne before the transfer period ends Aug. 31, but made clear they are willing to wait another year if needed. Then De Bruyne might see a new coach working for Bayern Munich. Endi