MUNICH, Germany (AFP) - Former Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld claims he is not to blame for Bayern's lacklustre football this season.
Munich manager Felix Magath saw his side labelled 'boring' after their 1-0 Champions League win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv and hinted that it was due to the legacy left behind by Hitzfeld.
"If you play passively it is not easy to just suddenly be able to play attractive football," said Magath.
Hitzfeld refused to take responsibility for an underperforming Bayern team.
"I cannot take the blame for everything," Hitzfeld told Munich newspaper Abendzeitung.
"My success speaks for itself and Bayern need to open a new chapter as soon as possible."
Hitzfeld, 55, won four domestic titles, two German Cups, a European Champions League crown and the Intercontinental Cup but a trophyless season last time around proved the final straw.
Bayern have struggled to convince under Magath, with narrow 1-0 wins the order of the day, but Hitzfeld pointed out how prolific his side was in front of goal.
"Even when the team was not producing magic football we scored the most goals over the years," added Hitzfeld.
Bayern needed two goals in the final two minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalen Stadium on Saturday.
Defeat would have increased the pressure on Magath who is quickly discovering that following Hitzfeld is no easy task.