Germany manager Joachim Low has admitted to being 'alarmed' by the performances of Bundesliga clubs in Europe so far this season.
Heavyweight sides Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund went down to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid respectively in the Champions League last week, while the other four German sides involved in continental action also lost.
Bayern have also stuttered domestically, leading to the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti before the international break, and Low insists that more needs to be done to bring through young talent.
"The weak performances of German clubs in Europe is hopefully just a momentary blip but it is alarming," he told reporters. "It is too early to say whether it is a general trend. Bayern and Dortmund have every chance to progress in the Champions League and it is the same for the Europa League teams.
"But for a while now I, and my coaches, have been thinking about how to improve things in the Bundesliga and that it's wrong to praise the Bundesliga to the high heavens or say only the Bundesliga produces the best talent. That would be untrue and people who say this have been humbled by this recent experience.
"We have to recognise this. We scout football every day, in France, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. We know what happens in South America. In France, Spain and England they are overwhelmed with young players We know there is talent all around the world and the Bundesliga isn't the be-all and end-all."
Low takes his Germany side to Windsor Park on Thursday evening for a World Cup qualifying tie against Northern Ireland.
Daniel Lewis
