With defending champions Borussia Dortmund nine points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, director of sport Michael Zorc has said he is irritated by comparisons with their Bavarian rivals.
"Why is it not yet finally accepted that we don't compare ourselves to Bayern Munich?" the Dortmund boss was quoted as saying by the German daily Bild.
"We didn't do that when we were eight points behind Bayern last season and we aren't going to do that now."
With a five-point lead at the top of the table, Bayern have won all seven Bundesliga games so far this season and will set a new league record if they claim an eighth straight victory at Fortuna Duesseldorf on October 20.
Dortmund are fourth in the league and will next play Bayern in Munich on December 1 in the Bundesliga.
"Bayern's points haul is currently simply the best," admitted Zorc.
Dortmund have been hit with injuries with defender Mats Hummels out for at least two weeks with a foot injury and he will miss Germany's 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Ireland on Friday and Sweden next week.
Poland international Blaszczykowski will be sidelined for six weeks with a left ankle injury, while fellow midfielder Bender will also be out for two weeks with a head injury.
The injuries mean Dortmund will be weakened for their Ruhr derby against Schalke on October 20.
With four goals in seven Bundesliga games, plus the important second-half strike at Manchester City in the Champions League, new midfielder Marco Reus has impressed Zorc since his arrival from Moenchengladbach.
"He's our leading scorer and we are extremely pleased with Marco, because he's putting in a really good season so far, but we can't expect to win every game for us," said Zorc.
