Rummenigge: 'Leipzig deserves respect in the Bundesliga'

RB Leipzig is unpopular title rival for Bayern Munich, but Karl-Heinze Rummenigge believes it is deserving of respect.

Published : Oct 26, 2017 23:30 IST

RB Leipzig has been an overwhelming success on the pitch, finishing second in its first season in the Bundesliga last year to qualify for the Champions League.
RB Leipzig has been an overwhelming success on the pitch, finishing second in its first season in the Bundesliga last year to qualify for the Champions League.
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RB Leipzig has been an overwhelming success on the pitch, finishing second in its first season in the Bundesliga last year to qualify for the Champions League.

Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes RB Leipzig deserves more respect and says its participation in the Bundesliga should be seen as a positive.

Leipzig is an unpopular presence in Germany's top tier as its Red Bull backing is widely seen to have skirted around the league's 50+1 rule, where club members' must be influential in the boardroom.

But the side has been an overwhelming success on the pitch, finishing second in its first season in the Bundesliga last year to qualify for the Champions League.

While some were not happy to see Ralph Hasenhuttl's side perform so well, Rummenigge has been pleased to see its emergence.

"I praise Leipzig for several reasons," he told ARD . "First of all, they have worked well, you can see a clear upward trend.

"Leipzig are good for the Bundesliga. They quite simply deserve some respect. The Bundesliga should be happy."

Leipzig faces Bayern for the second time in a week on Saturday – having been beaten in a penalty shoot-out by Jupp Heynckes' team in the DFB-Pokal in midweek.

Hasenhuttl's side sits third in the table after nine matches, one point behind joint leaders Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

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