Hamman dismisses Bayern's Champions League hopes

Caper Town - Former Germany international midfielder Dietmar Hamann feels the current squad of Bayern Munich is at the end of an era and won't compete for the Champions League title.

The former Bayern man claims age is not on the side of the manager Carlo Ancelotti's key players with reference to club legends Frank Ribery, Arjen Robben, Xabi Alonso and Phllip Lahm.

Despite being on course for a record 26th Bundesliga title, the 43-year-old feels the club's younger players that could have compensated for the aging squad have not stepped up enough for Die Rotten to be considered as favorites for the European crown.

"The Bayern squad just keeps getting older," the former Champions League winner told AZ ahead of the fixture against Arsenal.

"We should not forget that the core of this team has been playing at the highest level for about 10 years. It is only logical things are no longer what they used to be. And young players such as Renato Sanches and Kingsley Coman have failed to impress this season.

"They might still get away with it in the Bundesliga, but it will get difficult against Europe's finest," he added. "I think [Philipp] Lahm's retirement at the end of the season is the start of the end of an era. I can see Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben retiring in 2018 as well.

"But what this generation has done is simply sensational. You can hardly put their consistency into words."

Bayern face a stern test when they face Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday night at the Allianz Arena with the English side desperate to reverse their fading chances of lifting a trophy this season.

Kick off is at 21:45.