Hoffenheim vs Wolfsburg preview - Hecking wary of Hoffenheim threat

Posted Friday, September 12, 2014 by PA

Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking says he is not feeling any pressure at all as he leads his side to Hoffenheim this Saturday, still searching for a first win of the season.

The Wolves started the campaign as an outside bet to challenge Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund for the title.

After a draw and a defeat from their opening games, they are currently in the wrong half of the table, three points behind their hosts in the standings.

It is still too early in the season for the league table to have any significance, however, according to Hecking, who dismissed the notion of there being a crisis.

"People are building up pressure where there isn't any," he said at a press conference. "I can't take anything from all of that."

The club's director of sport Klaus Allofs spoke in a similar vein, saying: "We're not biting our fingernails."

Nevertheless, a second defeat of the season would not be the best of preparation for Wolfsburg's return to Europe next week and Hecking knows his side are going to have to be at their best against one of the most-improved sides in the Bundesliga this season.

"Last year, Hoffenheim conceded a lot of goals, but they've worked hard on that," Hecking said.

"With (Roberto) Firmino, (Sebastian) Rudy and (Eugen) Polanski, they have a well-oiled midfield axis and they have changed a bit up front with the signing of Adam Szalai, for example.

"They are looking far more stable now. But I'm optimistic we will improve on Saturday."

Hoffenheim captain Andreas Beck is not reading too much into Wolfsburg's early-season form, especially considering they opened their campaign at the defending champions Bayern Munich.

"Wolfsburg have a very strong side," he said on his club's official website. "They are going to come here intent on winning.

"We know that it's going to be a very difficult game, but we also know that we can beat them."