RB Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuttl says the club are "incredibly proud" of securing automatic Champions League qualification in their first season in the Bundesliga.
Having only won promotion to Germany's top flight last summer, Leipzig beat Hertha Berlin 4-1 on Saturday to guarantee qualification for European football's top club competition. With only two more games to be played this season, they have opened up an unassailable eight-point gap over fourth placed Hoffenheim.
Leipzig, who are controversially funded by Austrian soft drink giants Red Bull secured their berth in the Champions League group stages less than eight years after their first match in Germany's fifth tier.
"This team put in so much work that it's just part of it to relish and celebrate a success like that," Hasenhuttl told reporters. "You work a whole year for something like that, and once you're free from all the pressure, it is like an explosion. You're just proud, incredibly proud."
Speaking to ZDF later on Saturday, Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick added: "We can now start our planning, that's a super feeling."
Although Leipzig recorded a transfer deficit of around €60 million for the 2016-17 season, they have received widespread praise for their squad planning and have in the past confirmed they are working under a self-imposed €3m salary cap, which could be scrapped in the future.
Rangnick said the club will stick to their current transfer policy.
"We won't buy established and expensive stars but remain true to our principles and get young and highly gifted players," he said.