Tough-talking Kahn publicly lambasted his own team last season for their lack of spirit as they slumped to fourth in the Bundesliga and missed out on a Champions League berth for the first time in 11 years.

But Bayern's board dug deep over the summer and spent 69 million euros bringing the likes of French midfielder Franck Ribery, Italian World Cup winner Luca Toni and German striker Miroslav Klose to Munich.

And the injection of fresh talent has left Kahn believing Bayern can pick up some silverware in his final season before hanging his boots up.

The 20-times champions open their campaign at home against newly-promoted Hansa Rostock on Saturday.

"What I feel is not nostalgia or melancholy, it is more like a feeling of euphoria. I have been doing this job for more than 20 years now, but I am really looking forward to this season," Kahn, 38, told German newspaper Bild.

Bayern have already lifted the German League Cup in pre-season with Ribery announcing himself as their new star with three goals in two games.

But despite having beaten VfB Stuttgart, Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen (who all finished above them last season), Kahn still expects fierce competition from Bayern's rivals.

After facing Rostock, Bayern face a challenging start taking on Bremen, Hanover, Hamburg and Schalke, so Kahn is in no doubt Bayern face stiff competition from their main rivals.

"Stuttgart and Bremen will both be much stronger in the Bundesliga than we saw in the League Cup, in terms of aggression and desire, there won't be much to choose from amongst the top sides," added the Bayern goalkeeper, who won 86 caps and captained Germany.

Kahn says the squad has been rejuveneated by the arrivals of the likes of German defender Marcell Jansen, Schalke midfielder Hamit Altintop and the return of Brazilian forard Ze Roberto.

"New players always bring new energies and everyone wants to be ready to win their place at next year's European Championships and I think that will have a very positive influence on the team," said Kahn.

Kahn has been particularly impressed with 24-year-old Ribery, signed for 26 million euros from Marseille, and set to be one of the stars of this year's Bundesliga.

"He is a player who plays instinctive football, you never know what he is going to do," said the skipper.

"He took over the number seven from Mehmet Scholl and that suits him perfectly, because in the dressing-room he fires people up.

"When I see players like Franck in the side, I know we can do something good this season."