Sinsheim, Germany - TSG Hoffenheim have scaled back their aims for the next Bundesliga season in the wake of a free fall from the top in the past months.

Coach Ralf Rangnick told a news conference on Wednesday that club investor Dietmar Hopp did not insist on the team reaching a place in European competition in the 2009-10 campaign.

"The aim is that Hoffenheim develops, that the club becomes a regular Bundesliga member and has nothing to do with relegation," Rangnick said.

Hoffenheim took the league by storm in their first top flight season and topped the Bundesliga standings at the halfway mark. But they have only won the first of their following 13 matches and plunged to ninth place as the worst team since the winter break.

Wednesday's statements came the day after Rangnick pledged to stay at the club until the end of his contract in 2011 following clear-the-air talks with the management. Rangnick said "misunderstandings have been completely cleared up" after he Hopp met to discuss his future.

Public differences had emerged after the team's 4-0 thrashing at leaders Wolfsburg on Saturday in which Rangnick's call for new players were reportedly interpreted as "blackmail" by Hopp. (dpa)