Rangnick ensuring Hoffenheim’s feet remain on the ground
Published:Ralf Rangnick is not getting carried away that TSG Hoffenheim’s 100 per cent winning start to the Bundesliga season means his team are realistic title contenders.
In their first ever Bundesliga campaign last season Hoffenheim finished in a respectable seventh place, although they seemed on course for much more when topping the table at the mid-way point.
They have started the current campaign in similar fashion by winning their opening three games, which sees them sit at the head of affairs alongside Mainz and they are 16/1 to win the Bundesliga.
However, manager Rangnick does not want his team to get ahead of themselves and will continue to take the season one game at a time.
He said: “We have learnt that the weight of expectation damages us.
“We are not thinking about the title at all. That is absolutely unrealistic. We are preparing with full concentration for our next opponent. Only that way have do we have any chance of beating them.”
After beating Werder Bremen, St Pauli and Schalke in their first three games, Hoffenheim’s next challenge takes them to Kaiserslautern, where they are 11/8 to maintain their winning start.
Kaiserslautern beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in their only home game in the Bundesliga this season and are 8/5 to follow up with another success over Hoffenheim.
Key to Hoffenheim’s impressive start has been the speed and slickness of their passing and this is something they will need to display again if they are to gain maximum points from Kaiserslautern.
Bayern remain the 1/2 favourites to win the Bundesliga this season. See the whole Bundesliga winners market.
