By Oliver Trust
Munich, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Bayern's elimination as early as the last 16 round of the Champions League mercilessly revealed that the Bavarian team has no future. Many in the 2013 treble winner's current squad have passed their peak. To rejuvenate the squad is inevitable.
It is apparent that Bayern has lost contact with Europe's best.
But what is next for the reigning German Champion and is it only Bayern finding themselves in shallow waters?
German media are ringing the alarm bells when it comes to German football. "Disaster for German football," said the sports-magazine Kicker after Bayern, Borussia Dortmund (Tottenham Hotspurs) and Schalke 04 (Manchester City) were kicked out of the 2018/2019 competition.
The paper called the national league "not strong enough" to claim to be Europe's second-best league behind the Premier League. For the first time since 2006, no German club is part of the last 8 round of the Champions League.
"German football is only second class" commented the tabloid Bild. 2013 Bayern won the Champions League; 2014 Germany won the Brazil World Cup.
The downtrend is obvious. 2018: Germany suffered from an early group exit at the 2018 World Cup. 2019: The Champions League campaign is approaching the finish line without German participation.
No victory, a negative goal record of 3-17 in six games between Bundesliga outfits and opponents from the Premier League. "It's two different pairs of shoes, the Bundesliga and international competition," complained 150 times capped Lothar Matthaeus.
Former German international Michael Ballack said he was surprised "how limited" the German teams performed. "The last eight months tell us something has gone wrong." German football and the Bundesliga need a change the 42-year-old former Chelsea professional commented.
Former Liverpool and Bayern professional Dietmar Hamann said German football lacks speed. "Speed is what counts in today's football," Hamann emphasized.
The kicker called Bayern and Dortmund the only clubs capable of catching up again. To have only two clubs, in comparison of five or six of the Premier League, "is something the Bundesliga has to think about in the global race for attention."
German football is undoubtedly in turmoil due to the poor performance in the Champions League. Due to various reasons has the Premier League established as the world's strongest league.
But not only German club football seems to need an update but the German national team. Omitting former cornerstones such as Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, and Thomas Mueller most likely won't be the last step done by national coach Joachim Loew in his attempt to return to the top.
Manuel Neuer and Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) could well be the next one having to accept modern football's development has gone past them.
What needs to be done?
Both Bayern and the national team need new faces, younger ones, and faster ones. A golden era has ended.
To write a new chapter in history books requires courage, a generation change, and patience. Nations like England, the Netherlands and France might be an example to follow as clubs like Ajax are.
While Bayern seems to have understood the message the German national team's task seems more challenging when trying to get back on the road. The national team's change will have to be carried out by the coach who was part of what is said to be history.
It is no bold guess that Bayern will return to Europe's best shortly after the French 2018 World Champions Benjamin Pavard (VfB Stuttgart) and Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid) are said to join the club by summer 2019 aside of Timo Werner (RB Leipzig). Rumors speak of a Bayern's interest in Nicolas Pepe (Lille) and Hakim Ziyech (Ajax).
