Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac condemned the recent criticism of Bayer Leverkusen boss Heiko Herrlich ahead of their encounter on Saturday, calling it an "impossibility" to question a coach two games into the season.
Leverkusen were erratic last term and ultimately finished fifth in the Bundesliga, but their young squad showed plenty of promise at times and they were expected to push on this year.
By contrast, champions Bayern started with a pair of wins and have amassed six goals in the process, making them firm favourites when Leverkusen visit on Saturday.
"Leverkusen played very well and very successfully last year, now they have no points," Kovac told reporters at his pre-match news conference.
"But they could have gotten six points. We won't be fooled, we'll expect a tough fight. That the criticism is so strong, I am surprised and disappointed.
"I also do not think it's appropriate for my coaches to get so excited after two games, so we should try to be objective and professional.
"It's an impossibility to question a coach after two games."
Niko : "I thought Joshua did a good job in midfield for Germany and I told him that, but we have no intentions of switching things around here." September 14, 2018
But Kovac is not planning on a complete conversion.
"I talked to Joshua and told him he did well for the German national team, especially against France," the Croatian coach said.
"We have a lot of players in midfield, the games we've played so far Joshua has done well, [so] there is no reason to put him in midfield, especially since we don't have that many natural full-backs, but if we're in trouble, we can always do that."
