Bayer Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes was refusing to panic as his side were caught at the top of the Bundesliga by Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Leverkusen still lead the way on goal difference, but Saturday's 1-1 draw at Bochum meant they lost their two-point cushion over the Bavarians, who eased past Wolfsburg 3-1.
Nevertheless, Heynckes was not critical of his side for failing to win for the first time in 2010.
"Games like this can happen," he said. "That is quite normal. You cannot be so wrong to believe that Bayer are going to win every single game until the end of the season. My young team in particular is not capable of that."
Bayern extended their winning streak to eight on Saturday, but Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes does not believe they can keep that form going.
"They are certainly going to still drop points along the way," he said.
Only two goals currently keep Leverkusen above Bayern at the top of the standings with 13 games of the season remaining.
Leverkusen host Bayern in April, two weeks after entertaining third-placed Schalke in what is turning into a three-horse race for the title.
Meanwhile, Schalke manager Felix Magath has called for the introduction of goal-line technology after his side were denied a goal against Freiburg on Saturday.
Marcelo Bordon's 47th-minute header bounced off the crossbar and over the line before coming back into play, but the goal was not given by referee Jochen Drees.
The game ended 0-0 whereas a 1-0 win for Schalke would have seen them move to within one point of league leaders Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
Magath told Sky television: "It's the same old story, the DFB (German Football Association) and UEFA think we can carry on without using any new technology, without putting a chip in the ball. Whether it is video evidence or a chip in the ball, the main thing is that it works and the decisions are correct.
"I don't understand how amateurish they are. Instead of using modern technology, they leave it up to luck.
"There are so many amateurs who don't think anything of making meaningful improvements. We, on the other hand, are professionals. The people who are holding firm against it can only be amateurs."
Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said his team only had themselves to blame for not winning the match, though.
"It was hard for the referee to see, but we had enough chances afterwards to score," he said.
Bayern coach Louis van Gaal was enraged with his side, despite his club's 10th straight victory in all competitions and eighth in a row in the league, but he fears his side are getting carried away with their impressive form and risk a rude awakening.
"We started well, but then lacked concentration at 2-0 and allowed Wolfsburg too many chances," he said. "I don't think we played good football. I am very angry.
"We played arrogantly, but if you are arrogant, then you have got to put the ball in the back of the net well.
"We didn't do that. We have got to maintain our concentration all the time and not turn arrogant after going 1-0 or 2-0 up."
The Dutch coach did find something to smile about with the news from Bochum and Freiburg that both Leverkusen and Schalke had only managed to draw.
"Our rivals have lost points, so I am happy about that," he said.
Bayern last lost in the Bundesliga against Hamburg at the end of September and have since gone 14 games without losing.
But Van Gaal said: "I don't think it is important to be at the top of the table right now."
