Former Bayern Icon Markus Babbel Launches Stunning Attacking on Key Forward Over Ancelotti Sacking

Former Bayern Munich star Markus Babbel has lambasted one of the club's star players, Franck Ribéry, for the turn in fortunes the club has seen this season. Bayern have recently sacked manager Carlo Ancelotti due to an apparent relationship breakdown between players and coach - which has seen the club fall five points behind Borussia Dortmund in the title race.

Speaking to television station Sky 90, via FourFourTwo, Babbel took aim at Franck Ribéry, citing him as one of the key reasons behind the club's poor start to the 2017/18 Bundesliga campaign. 

"Franck Ribéry has not scored a goal in the Champions League in the last two years. He still sees himself on the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. But the truth is different. The truth is when it matters, he is not there.

"It is a bit annoying for me that the whole thing is now shifted to Carlo Ancelotti. Ribéry has great merits for the club and has been a fantastic player. But this position he once held is one he cannot now fulfil in my eyes."

Ribéry is currently out injured, after suffering a horror ligament tear against Hertha Berlin in Sunday's disappointing 2-2 draw. 

The 33-year-old has seen much of the latter portion of his career blighted with injury, after spending his 20s being considered a world class player. During a decade with Bayern, Ribéry has won seven league titles and a Champions League.