Ottmar Hitzfeld has backed Pep Guardiola to use the pain of successive Champions League semifinal exits to stay at Bayern Munich, but says the ex-Barcelona coach must improve his German language skills.
The Catalan coach is under contract until 2016, and is set to enter talks over his future with the Bayern hierarchy in the second half of the year.
Bayern secured their third consecutive title before their recent slump in form, which has seen them exit at the semifinal stages of both the Champions League and DFB-Pokal.
But former Bayern boss Hitzfeld thinks Guardiola will extend his stay in Munich, telling Bild on Saturday: "I believe that he'll prolong [his deal]. He can develop his philosophy at Bayern."
Hitzfeld -- who won five league titles and a Champions League trophy during two spells at Bayern -- believes the coach is not finished yet, and that the two "painful" semifinal exits against Real Madrid (in 2014) and Barcelona (this season) will boost his hunger "to do better" in Europe.
However, the 66-year-old urged Guardiola to improve his knowledge of the German language, adding: "He's got his clear ideas, but it's not easy to mould them into the right words in a foreign language. This can delay the development."
Bayern suffered a third consecutive Bundesliga defeat for the first time since 1998 as relegation battlers Freiburg came back to win 2-1 on Saturday.
The defeat did not change anything at the top of the league, with Guardiola's side having already retained their title.
The recent run of results, which have seen Bayern lose five of their last six games, has also led to Guardiola's future being questioned by sections of the German media.
Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge dubbed the attention an "anti-Guardiola trend" on Saturday, saying it only exists outside of the club.
Speaking to ZDF on Saturday, Bayern's sporting director Sammer reiterated that the club are to enter talks with Guardiola in the second half of the year, and went on to praise the Catalan coach.
"He's a blessing for German football -- not only for Bayern Munich but also for the national team," Sammer said. "The players really enjoy working with this coach. He's something special."
Sammer has also defended Mario Gotze against recent criticism, with the attacking midfielder urged to "grow up" by Bayern's honorary president Franz Beckenbauer in recent weeks after some below-par performances.
Gotze is under contract at Bayern until 2017, and Sammer -- who played for and coached Gotze's former club Borussia Dortmund -- said: "He plays better here than he did at Dortmund.
"Mario has played in 31 of a possible 33 league games this season, and has started 27 -- only Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller played more.
"In the Champions League he started nine of a possible 12 games. It was bit unfortunate for him [to not start] against Barcelona."