bundesliga.de spoke to former Bayern star and Bundesliga coach Klaus Augenthaler about the opening three Bundesliga matchdays.
bundesliga.de: Klaus Augenthaler, what do you make of the opening three matchdays?
Klaus Augenthaler: The season start was thrilling, promising and had a few surprises in store. Hoffenheim had a brilliant start with two straight wins, other teams will be disappointed. Hanover had a poor start and FC Bayern surely had other targets, too. But it's still early days, and a lot is still to happen.
bundesliga.de: Who has been a positive surprise so far?
Augenthaler: The current table isn't too meaningful yet. Many teams still have to find their feet, and there were a few more signings made at the end of the transfer window. Dortmund and Hoffenheim are likely to finish further down the table compared to where they are now, and that's partly down to the fixture schedule.
bundesliga.de: What account gave the promoted teams of themselves?
Augenthaler: Hoffenheim's start didn't surprise me that much. It's always possible to get a result in Cottbus and against Mönchengladbach, and Ralf Rangnick's team took maximum points. Leverkusen then brought them down to earth. Gladbach and Cologne had problems to get going, which is typical for promoted teams.
bundesliga.de: How important is a good start?
Augenthaler: A good start is always incredibly important, no matter who you play. Clubs sign players without Bundesliga experience or from abroad and thereby take a risk. If you didn't bag the points you had planned with it may give rise to the first doubts after three matches.
bundesliga.de: What's the impression the new coaches have made on you?
Augenthaler: The Bundesliga's four new coaches and Jürgen Klopp too have made a good start. Klopp surely had a little advantage because of his Bundesliga experience. It will be interesting to see how Martin Jol copes with the difference between Bundesliga and Premier League. Fred Rutten came from a rather small club, there's a different climate at Schalke. Elimination in the Champions League qualifier surely was a little ticking-off.
bundesliga.de: Cottbus and Hanover have made a poor start. What do you make of the situation there?
Augenthaler: Cottbus and Hanover haven't scored yet. Both teams surely had a different start in mind. But there's no unrest yet.
Interview: Sebastian Stolz / Translation: Christof Greiner
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