Ottmar Hitzfeld says Bayern's squad better than Real Madrid, Barcelona

Former Bayern Munich manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, not surprisingly, believes the German side is the best in Europe, claiming they're stronger than Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Hitzfeld, whose second spell in charge of the club ended in 2008 - after he won five Bundesliga titles and a Champions League crown between his two stints in Munich - told German outlet TZ that Pep Guardiola has more quality options to chose from than any other manager in the world.

"I am of the opinion that Bayern have the best squad - and by that I mean not only the first XI - in the whole of Europe.

"The squad of Bayern is stronger," Hitzfeld said when asked about the two Spanish sides. "Guardiola can replace two or three top players without a problem. Many players can take this opportunity to prove themselves and get match practice. This fuels competition."

- With translation from ESPN FC