Bayern Munich great Lothar Matthaus has blamed Carlo Ancelotti for Thomas Muller’s ongoing malaise.

Germany forward Muller was named on the bench for the Bundesliga champions’ 2-0 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday, coming on in the 73rd minute after Robert Lewandowski netted the first of a second-half brace.

The 27-year-old told ARD after the match that his qualities “seem not to be 100 per cent in demand” under Ancelotti, who praised his cameo, but explained that a desire to control central areas while retaining the dual wing threat of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery lay behind Muller’s omission.

Matthaus feels a more rigid team structure under Ancelotti is hindering Muller, who only scored five Bundesliga goals last term, having hit 32 in all competitions under Pep Guardiola in 2015-16.

“Thomas Muller is first choice for the national team, but he’s having a hard time at Bayern,” Matthaus told Kicker.

“He’s selected less often in the important games in Munich, and I am sceptical that this will improve this year.

“This has nothing to do with Muller. He needs a coach who wants him in his team, then Muller will not disappoint.

“Muller isn’t a number seven, a number nine nor a number 10. He is everything and in between. But Carlo Ancelotti thinks and selects his team very strictly according to a player’s position.”

Muller is part of Germany’s squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Norway, while Bayern travel to Hoffenheim on their return to Bundesliga action on 9 September.