Michael Ballack expects a tougher season for Carlo Ancelotti

Former Bayern Munich star Michael Ballack expects Carlo Ancelotti to have a difficult campaign with the German champions this term despite making a 100 percent start to the Bundesliga campaign.

The 40-year-old, who has previously played under the tutelage of Ancelotti at Chelsea, believes that the manager will regret the appointment of Willy Sagnol as his new assistant this season.

"I was amazed that Ancelotti said on the day Sagnol was introduced that he would have preferred Philipp Lahm or Xabi Alonso alongside him. Obviously, there were different opinions between the coach and the Bayern board. In addition, Ballack claims Ancelotti could regret the decision not to choose his own assistant and accept the Bayern hierarchy's own man. I know Carlo from our time together at Chelsea. He is a nice bloke of impeccable character who has perhaps made concessions and accepted decisions against his own will," Ballack told Revier Sport.

The Bavarian giants have won five straight Bundesliga titles without much fuss, and Ballack feels that Bayern will easily wrap up their sixth consecutive title as they are miles apart in spending when compared to their close rivals. The likes of Xabi Alonso and Philipp Lahm called quits on their professional careers at the end of last season, and the club have since brought in younger recruits including CorentinTolisso, NiklasSule, and Sebastian Rudy to bolster the squad.

With Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery also reaching the twilight of their respective careers, there could be further changes in the coming years. James Rodriguez appears to be the perfect fit to take the club forward under Ancelotti, although he has yet to make a competitive appearance due to an injury sustained earlier in pre-season. Bayern Munich are among four clubs including Borussia Dortmund, Hannover and Hamburg to have won the first two games of the new Bundesliga campaign.