Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge warned Bayern Munich's players they "must turn the corner" after witnessing their second defeat of the season.
Bayern were beaten 2-1 at home by league leaders Mainz to fall 10 points behind the visitors and leave Rummenigge reminding the players of their responsibilities.
"You have got to say that we never got into the game from the very beginning," he said.
"Mainz had a great willingness to run, they were aggressive and they played with passion. We did none of this.
"After the win in Hoffenheim we had hoped that we could get three more points today and climb the table.
"Now we have got to ensure that we turn the corner because 10 points are certainly a lot. We really cannot be happy with our performance."
Rummenigge is demanding an improvement on Tuesday when Bayern travel to Basle in the Champions League and then at Borussia Dortmund next weekend.
"The beautiful thing about football is that you can put things right again in three days' time," he added.
"And we have to put things right because with a performance like that you will go nowhere in the Champions League, that's for certain, and not in the Bundesliga either.
However, Rummenigge was quick to point out that coach Louis van Gaal is not to blame for the club's poor start to the season.
He said: "It is all about the players, not the coach. He is doing a fantastic job every day here. It is exclusively the team which is now required to move up a gear."
Van Gaal admitted that his team had played badly for the first time this season but
heaped praise on Mainz, who are now just one win away from equalling Bayern's record of seven straight wins at the start of a season.
"I think they can win the title," he said.
Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel is not letting such thoughts into his mind, however.
"We don't feel any bigger than we are," he said. "It is extraordinary to win a sixth game in a row.
"I am lost for words. We are delighted."
