Philipp Lahm has urged fans to blame the players for Bayern Munich's disappointing form.

The Bavarian giants have won only two of their first six Bundesliga matches and are already ten points adrift of leaders Mainz, who triumphed 2-1 at the Allianz Arena at the weekend.

We have too many players who are performing below their level. We have got to ensure we find our true form immediately.
Philipp Lahm of Bayern Munich

Club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has defended coach Louis van Gaal and questioned the players, and the Germany fullback is in full agreement.

"We have too many players who are performing below their level," Lahm told the Bild newspaper. "If you play like that, then you cannot beat such a euphoric team like Mainz."

Rummenigge has ordered the team to "turn the corner" in tonight's UEFA Champions League game against Basel; one which Lahm believes is the most important of Bayern's season to date. Defeat in Switzerland would increase the media intensity on a club not used to failure.

"We cannot allow that to happen," said Lahm. "We have got to ensure we find our true form immediately.

"It is going to be really tough for us now to make up this ten-point deficit on Mainz, and that is not what we wanted."