体坛英语新闻：Bayern in danger of losing Champions League for next 10 years, says Effenberg

BERLIN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Former Bayern Munich midfielder Stefan Effenberg has warned that the 2017 German Champion could miss the Champions League title for the next 10 years due to a lack of investments made in new players. The gap between Bayern and other European top clubs such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Paris St. Germain and some English clubs is growing and already evident, the former German international said.

Bayern will have to increase its investments, the 2001 Champions League winner told German media. The money involved in top football is crazy, the 49-year-old stressed, but emphasized that without joining the race Bayern won't have a chance to catch up.

While Paris, in Effenbergs' perspective, has developed to one of the favorites of this season's Champions League campaign, he says an appropriate reaction from Bayern Munich's leaders is lacking. Effenberg even expects problems for the Italian star coach Ancelotti if the 59-year-old does not manage to win more than one title in the 2017-2018 season. The club plans three titles this season. "If you can't address your expectations you get into trouble," the three-time German champion stressed.

Ancelotti will have to face hard times when his team misses a perfect start to the season, Effenberg said. Last season, and in some years before, Bayern deserved to be eliminated by other European top dogs such as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona who won 35 caps with the German national team. In 2001 he was awarded Europe's best player.

Effenberg has never investigated so many problems in Bayern's team as he has currently. One of Ancelotti's biggest problems is to keep all of his stars motivated. The three-time Champions League winner will have to make hard decisions, and some of his stars won't be happy if they don't get enough playing time. That would be far from an easy job. Bayern's problems get obvious as the team has to adapt many new players in advance of every season Effenberg stressed.

Although Effenberg's criticizing his former club Ancelotti is staying calm. The Italian said the Italian based sports-newspaper "Gazzetta dello sport" is convinced his side will win the 2017/2018 Champions League title. A few disappointing results won't make him lose his faith. The team has improved compared to the last season and would aim at the highest goals such as to win three titles this season, Ancelotti stressed. Ancelotti also called club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge a dear friend.

Columbian striker James Rodriguez joining the club would enforce the teams' quality enormously. With the 26-year-old striker, Bayern is much more uNPRedictable and can increase their speed in their forwarding games, Ancelotti stressed. James Rodriguez will in his perspective certainly make his way in Bayern's team.

Due to injury, the Columbian striker will be sidelined for several weeks.

Winning the 2017 German Super Cup against Borussia Dortmund has given his team confidence, he stressed. Ancelotti said he could not see a crisis. Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said he was happy as the team has shown determination at the right time. The team, Rummenigge stressed, can be at a top level when needed.

Rummenigge had criticized Ancelotti after five defeats in six pre-season preparation games and demanded quick answers by the head coach. Like Rummenigge (the new sports director) Hasan Salihamidzic said the team has shown guts by beating a strong side such as Borussia Dortmund and would be on the right way. To speak about a crisis would be misleading, the former professional said.

Neglecting Effenbergs statements, Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski told a German sports magazine he is convinced that in a few months everything will go well for Bayern. The team would be aware of some problems, but they would not be a surprise in advance of a season and after an energy-sapping tour to China and Asia.

Stefan Effenberg said he still is convinced Bayern has to invest more. A bad example obviously was the new Paris St. Germain star Neymar Junior, who joined the French club for 222 million euros from FC Barcelona. In 2010, when Neymar was still 17 years old, Bayern refused to transfer him because he was too expensive with a pricetag of 24 million euros.