Bayern report card

A league and cup double in Pep Guardiola's first season as FC Bayern München coach can be deemed nothing short of a success. Although an embarrassing Champions League semifinal exit to Real Madrid and an upheaval in playing style cast some doubt on the club's aspirations, two trophies can never be a disappointment.

Key player

In a team full of stars fighting for the headlines, Arjen Robben must be Bayern's key player this season. Discarded as a winger with glass knees that was prematurely reaching the latter stages of his career, the Dutchman has grown into Bayern's number one big-game player. He scored the winner against Dortmund in last year's German Cup quarterfinal and Champions League final, and scored what might as well have been the winner in this year's 2-0 DFB Pokal final victory. And all of this after a nightmare miss in the 2010 World Cup final, as well as haunting penalty misses against Dortmund and Chelsea in 2012.

Surprise player

Considering all the personnel in question, Philipp Lahm in defensive midfield has to be the surprise of the year. Renowned as the world's greatest right back, moving Bayern's captain to the midfield pivot caused uproar amongst German fans and media alike. Yet with a supreme confidence Lahm adapted to prove just how remarkably intelligent his footballing brain is. Removing his height as an issue, he was the lynchpin between the defensive line and Bayern's intimidating wave of attackers. Rarely disappointing, he showed consistency and concentration in abundance. If anyone could have done well in that position it was going to be Lahm, but he's the surprise because he became better than many would have imagined. A tip of the cap, as well, to Rafinha at right-back - easily the biggest beneficiary of Guardiola's Lahm remodeling project.

Coach

This has not been the season that Pep Guardiola would have wanted. He wanted the European trophy, and some would argue he has been brought in specifically for that task. Nevertheless, having turned Bayern from a versatile goal machine into a possession-focused beast, a domestic double is a fantastic achievement. There's no denying he had the players to do so but his methodical and incessant application provided the blueprint. Success is a fine line though and a cup final defeat to rivals Dortmund would have left many questioning Guardiola's strategic stubbornness.

Defining moment

In a season full of changes, Bayern have had turned a number of corners with their new, Spanish coach at the helm. In the successful season that it became, no moment stands out more than their 3-1 away demolition of Manchester City. The result broke City's home dominance in Europe - an unbeaten run that dated back to 2008 - but it was the dominant nature of the performance that left Europe drooling. Although it failed to end in another European trophy, this game served as a reminder of just how well Guardiola's system could work given the right momentum and fitness of his players.

What's next?

After the World Cup, defensive recruitment and the integration of Robert Lewandowski top the summer list. Dante and Jerome Boateng were phenomenal at the start of the season, but as the intensity grew their form dipped. With Daniel van Buyten not getting any younger and Holger Badstuber still a long way from being first choice, the club seem certain to sign a defender. Beyond the summer, the focus will entirely be on winning the Champions League again. And a distant thought may be cast towards the changing of the guard as Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Robben and Ribery all approach the latter stages of their career.

Grade: A

All things considered, two trophies out of a possible three isn't bad at all. As disappointing as a Champions League semifinal exit may first appear, the club have been spoiled with their European runs of late and so should be proud of once again being among Europe's top four teams.