WOLFSBURG, Germany, Oct 4 (AFP) - VfL Wolfsburg refused to budge from top spot in the Bundesliga collecting 18 points from a possible 21 to stand proudly above Bayern Munich and other German big guns.
The unfashionable club only won promotion to the Bundesliga seven years ago but have made remarkable progress and now lead the 18-strong Bundesliga pack thanks to six wins in seven matches.
Borussia Monchengladbach became their latest victims on Saturday falling to a 2-1 defeat at the Volkswagen Arena.
"I have never claimed that we could be German champions," said coach Erik Gerets. "If we do not raise our game we will not even be able to stay near the top for the next two months."
VfL Wolfsburg won promotion to the Bundesliga in 1997 alongside Kaiserslautern but while the Wolves struggled Kaiserslautern, under the guidance of Greece's Euro 2004 managerial hero Otto Rehhagel, stormed to the German title.
It was a fairytale to push Bayern Munich into second spot after winning promotion the previous season and Wolfsburg dream of their own fairytale.
"We dream about the title but we know that we are not good enough to win it," added Belgian handler Gerets.
Wolfsburg used to be famous for having a coach named Wolfgang Wolf and Peter Pander as their general manager but, bankrolled by car giant Volkwagen, they are starting to motor on the pitch.
The unfashionable German side fended off real competition to snap up Argentine playmaker Andres D'Alessandro from River Plate in 2003 and it has helped bring the club forward.
An Olympic Games winner with Argentina in 2004, D'Alessandro cost a club record nine million euros but his quality has shone through and he appears to breed confidence in other players.
Dutch international Kevin Hofland, once targeted by Manchester United and Arsenal, was signed for two million euros from PSV Eindhoven in the close season and has been a revelation in defence.
Argentine striker Diego Klimowicz, German international striker Thomas Brdaric and goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch are other players to blossom under Gerets.
Unlike Bayern, Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart, who are all distracted by playing in Europe, Wolfsburg can give their full attention to the Bundesliga and will hope that gives them an edge.
Qualifying for Europe was the aim in pre-season but Wolves fans are crossing their fingers that the Kaiserslautern spirit of 1998 can be recreated at the Volkswagen Arena.