Franz Beckenbauer reckons Bayern Munich need Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben to return quickly if their Bundesliga position is going to improve.
A 3-3 draw at Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday has left Bayern ninth in the table, 12 points adrift of the league leaders Borussia Dortmund.
And Beckenbauer told Sky television there can be no real complaints about currently lying behind the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt, Mainz, Nurnberg and Freiburg in the standings.
"Without Ribery and Robben, I would say that we are not average because it is still a good team, but it is not an excellent one," he said.
"The team is just not stable. There is no harmony in the team."
Although the four aforementioned teams are not causing Beckenbauer too much concern, league leaders Dortmund and third-placed Bayer Leverkusen are threatening their dominance of German football this season.
"Leverkusen have a great deal of potential," explained Beckenbauer. "They are currently seven points behind Dortmund, who are sure to drop points along the way.
"Dortmund are on an excellent run and they are making good use of it.
"They cannot lose the points they have gained and they are heading in the right direction, but I expect Leverkusen to keep up with them."
