Bayern Munich boss Franz Beckenbauer says it's time for a radical overhaul of his ailing team.
Bayern is in danger of finishing the season without a title. Already out of the German Cup and the Champions League, Bayern is all but certain to lose the Bundesliga title it won the last two seasons. Even worse, it is also unlikely to earn a berth in the Champions League next season after 10 straight years in the elite club competition it won in 2001.
"It can't go on like this," Beckenbauer wrote in his column on Monday in the mass-circulation Bild newspaper.
"We have to start from the beginning and build a virtually new team," the club president said.
Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said "six, seven, maybe eight new players" would be arriving, without giving any names.
"That's half the team, there is going to be a massive transformation," Hitzfeld told Kicker magazine.
The latest blow came on Saturday when Bayern lost 2-0 at Stuttgart to fall five points from third place, which gets a spot in the Champions League qualifying round. With four games remaining, Bayern is now seven points off second place and a direct place in the main draw.
"Out shortcomings were exposed [against Stuttgart]," Beckenbauer said.
"We didn't create chances, we pushed the ball aimlessly around the field. We were negligent and indecisive in the defense," Beckenbauer said. "That's not how you are going to win in the Bundesliga."
Hitzfeld says his team lacked the desire to win.
"We can't give up after conceding a goal," Hitzfeld said. "We crumble under pressure, we don't have a winner's mentality, you can feel the fear in our players. And we give up ridiculous goals."
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