Ze Roberto: Bayern made mistake hiring Ancelotti

Former Bayern Munich winger Ze Roberto called Carlo Ancelotti's appointment at the club a "mistake," an incendiary indictment that comes after the Bavarians lost first place in domestic and foreign competitions.

Struggling to dominate like it did under Pep Guardiola, Bayern ended a rare three-match winless streak Saturday by defeating Bayer Leverkusen 2-1.

Accusations of a drop in quality exploded following Bayern's midweek capitulation to Rostov.

"Bayern made (a) mistake by appointing Carlo Ancelotti," Ze Roberto - who at 42 years old won the Brazilian Serie A with Palmeiras - is quoted as saying by PA Sport. "But it's hard to find a coach on the same level as Pep Guardiola, or somebody who at least has a similar philosophy."

Ancelotti replaced Guardiola in the summer after the Spaniard joined Manchester City's project for the next three seasons. Though the former Barcelona boss has experienced his own difficulties in England - going a personal record six matches without victory - his successor has received the greater share of criticism.

Bayern still owns, on average, the highest possession of any big-five team, bossing the ball 63.6 percent every 90 minutes.

Ancelotti just preaches a different kind of football, one which is more reactive and not as physically intense as Guardiola's system.

The Italian doesn't face any immediate threat to his job, but the fact Bayern has conceded first place in the Bundesliga and Champions League Group D is an early warning shot.