Michael Ballack says Bayern Munich's exit from the Champions League -- meaning not a single Bundesliga club survived the last 16 -- mirrors deeper problems within German football. "We (the German national team) went out of the World Cup early, were relegated in the League of Nations and the Champions League has ended for all German sides in the round of 16," the former Germany captain told Sky. "It's a clue we're not doing everything right, we must not try to explain that away with excuses." For the first time since 2006, there will be no German club in the quarter-finals and for the first time since 2011, Bayern have failed to advance past the Champions League's last 16.

"A perfect Dexit" commented broadcaster RTL. The combination of Deutschland and exit sums up the national mood after Bayern -- the last German hope in the Champions League -- bowed out with a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool. A hard truth for a proud footballing nation is that in three last-16 matches between Premier League and Bundesliga clubs, English teams won every one. Bayern's 3-1 loss to Liverpool over two-legs, Dortmund's 4-0 defeat to Tottenham and Schalke's 10-2 mauling against Manchester City, including a 7-0 away thrashing at the Etihad on Tuesday, handed English teams a 17-3 aggregate victory over six games. Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp however rejected the notion that Premier League clubs are superior to Bundesliga sides after the Reds' convincing win in Munich on Wednesday.