Along with Ernst Happel, Jose Mourinho, Jupp Heynckes and Carlo Ancelotti, Hitzfeld, 68, is one of five managers to have won the Champions League with two different clubs (Dortmund in 1997 and Bayern in 2001), and says he would like to see Arsene Wenger win the competition.

‘I have huge respect for Arsene Wenger; he is still on fire’

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"I admire Arsene Wenger. I have nothing but huge respect for a coach which exposes himself to this amount of pressure at a top club for so many years on a daily basis, rebuilding the team every year. I could imagine that he will go on after this season. He's still on fire. His biggest goal still is winning the Champions League. And I would like to see that happen to him."

Thomas Tuchel has been touted as a potential successor to Wenger should the Arsenal boss step down and Hitzfeld believes the 43-year-old has the potential to become one of the best coaches in the world.

‘Thomas Tuchel has the potential to be the world’s best’

Thomas Tuchel (Borussia Dortmund) Image credit: Imago

"Borussia Dortmund managed to win their group ahead of Champions League holders Real Madrid. Tuchel's tactics convinced me totally of his ability during these games. The match in Madrid was beautiful, and made his mark in Europe. He has the potential to be one of world's best coaches one day."

Arsenal and Bayern have recent history in the Champions League with the Bavarians dispatching them from the 2013 and 2014 iterations of the competition but Hitzfeld believes the gap between the two has closed.

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"The gap is not huge anymore, but Bayern is still the favourite as they have the better substance in players, the better bench. But Arsenal has stabilised. Bayern must not concede in the first match at home, what will be very difficult against Arsenal's fast players. Their counter attacks are very hazardous for Bayern."

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