RB Leipzig chairman Oliver Mintzlaff has dismissed critical comments about his club from Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, claiming Leipzig have "taken attention away'' from BVB.
Leipzig have been the surprise package of the Bundesliga season so far, winning 24 of a possible 30 points and behind leaders Bayern Munich only on goal difference.
They are bankrolled by Austrian soft drink company Red Bull and have faced criticism from rival fans for undermining the "German" idea of football.
Watzke told Sport Bild Leipzig have "no historic roots" and were founded "to play football in order to promote a canned drink."
Mintzlaff said he was surprised by Watzke's comments, adding that the Dortmund CEO had said very different things about Leipzig privately.
"I met Mr Watzke just a few days ago at the German FA assembly in Erfurt and he spoke very positively about our fans and about us, as he has done in previous months too,'' Mintzlaff told Bild.
"I personally believe what he tells me and not what he says to the media and to individual fan groups."
Mintzlaff believes Watzke is only acting in the best interests of his club, who he says feel threatened by Leipzig's rise.
"We are just a little sorry that Red Bull have taken a bit of the attention away from Dortmund," Mintzlaff added.
"Mr Watzke knows that RB Leipzig as a club are seen by the majority of people as an absolute enrichment for the Bundesliga."
Leipzig can go top of the Bundesliga on Friday if they set a new record of 11 games unbeaten from the start of their first season in Germany's top flight against Bayer Leverkusen.
Dortmund are six points behind Leipzig in fifth place.