Pep Guardiola has responded to criticism from former Bayern Munich manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, saying he's still learning the "German mentality."

Hitzfeld expressed concern last month that more Spanish than German was being spoken in the Bayern camp with Guardiola signing so many foreign players while allowing Germans like Bastian Schweinsteiger to leave.

"You have to take account of the German mentality," said Hitzfeld, who retouched his argument this week after Brazilian Douglas Costa started over Germany's World Cup hero Mario Gotze.

Guardiola defended himself on Friday by saying he does not have a German mentality because he is not German.

"I'm here to learn about the German mentality too," he said. "I don't have a German mentality, I'm Catalan.

"This topic has been ongoing for some time. I'm sorry, but I just give my best for the club, to keep up this level and to win the Treble again just like Jupp Heynckes did [in 2012-13]."

Mario Gotze, right, has to compete with Douglas Costa for a spot in the Bayern starting lineup. Karina Hessland/Bongarts/Getty Images

Guardiola also said that he has more Germans in his XI now than the four that Hitzfield had in the 2001 Champions League final.

"Today we have more German players in our starting lineup," Guardiola said. "It's a German club with a German mentality.

"We're here to adapt to the German mentality. I've already said it, I've given and continue to give my best."

Keeping everybody happy in such a large squad means making some painful decisions, though, and Guardiola said he knows he will have more to make this weekend for their first Bundesliga away game of the season at Hoffenheim.

"All of my players want to play, but it is up to me to decide who will not play," Guardiola said. "That's my only problem."