Klinsmann was sacked in April without ever taking the team to the top of the Bundesliga standings - a feat the Bavarians failed to achieve all season as they finished runners-up to Wolfsburg.

And Lahm has accused his former mentor in the Germany national team of turning a successful side into a losing one.

"Klinsmann did not take the team forward," he said in the Express newspaper.

"When you concede so many goals, you cannot talk about tactical organisation."

One of Bayern's main problems last season was their leaky defence. Many pinned the blame on rookie goalkeeper Michael Rensing, who was eventually stripped of his number one status shortly before Klinsmann was shown the door.

However, Lahm does not believe a defence which was the envy of the whole of Germany can just turn bad overnight, particularly when - apart from Rensing's elevation to first choice following Oliver Kahn's retirement - the other personnel were all the same.

"There were many factors which did not work with us, but when you concede so many goals, it is not because the defenders have suddenly forgotten how to play football," he added in the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

Lahm, who is currently in Dubai with the Germany national team for their friendly international against the United Arab Emirates, hopes the arrival of Louis van Gaal will get Bayern back on track.

"We now have a coach from the Ajax school who practically created a new system there," he said.

"Therefore I am confident that we will get our organisation back.

"If you want to succeed in the Champions League, then you need this organisation."

However, organisation alone cannot make a team successful and Lahm has emphasised the importance of keeping hold of players like Franck Ribery - just as long as he wants to stay.

"A top team also needs to have world-class players in every position, like Franck," he added.

"But he has got to want to still play here. Given the way he played in the last few weeks of the season, he does.

"Of course you need top players like Franck and you should try to keep hold of him, but it is also acceptable if Franck goes and you strengthen yourself in another way.

"Anything is possible. But FC Bayern would certainly not fall apart if Franck is no longer with us."