Munich, Germany, Feb 19: Playmaker Michael Ballack, has written off Bayern Munich's chances to win back-to-back Bundesliga titles in the wake of poor recent results.
''Perhaps its actually quite good not to become champions again. In that case one is fired up again to attack the title the following season,'' Ballack told the Hamburger Abendblatt daily Tuesday.
''We must see that we remain second and win our games,'' said Ballack, who is suffering from bronchitis and as a result was unable join the national team for today's friendly in Croatia.
A second-place finish will give Munich direct qualification for the money-laden European Champions League.
Coming off a 1-0 weekend defeat in Bochum, Munich rank nine points behind leaders Werder Bremen in second place.



Manager Uli Hoeness and goalkeeper Oliver Kahn said that Munich still had a chance to win the league, but club boss Franz Beckenbauer also shared Ballack's view.



Beckenbauer congratulated Bremen on the title in his column in the Bild Daily, saying: ''There is life for us without a title as well.''


Bureau Report