Bayern Munich boss Louis van Gaal has played down suggestions that there is a crisis at the Allianz Arena - but has called for improvement.The defending Bundesliga champions have taken only eight points from the first seven matches of the season to leave them in 12th position.

Van Gaal, who recently signed a contract extension to tie him to Bayern until 2012, admits that performances have not been good enough.

He thinks that his squad is feeling the impact of Germany's successful World Cup in the summer.

Van Gaal told ZDF television: "I said before the start of the campaign that we would be facing a struggle due to the excellent results of Germany at the World Cup, since a lot of our players are Germany internationals.

"We are not progressing very well in the Bundesliga as the players struggle with a mental balance.

"They are able to focus if they are involved in very important matches, but they still have to learn to do it day-in, day-out in the Bundesliga.

"I want to say they are also humans, they are not machines."

Bayern goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt fears history could repeat itself if his side do not start winning.

The shot-stopper was part of the Bayer Leverkusen team who, after finishing runners-up in the league, the cup and in the UEFA Champions League in 2002, only just avoided relegation the following season.

"Not only were we in the Champions League final with Leverkusen, but we also had very many players in the summer of 2002 at the World Cup," said Butt. "Those efforts and successes certainly played a role over the course of the season."