Lehmann in hot water for slamming Stuttgart bosses

Ex-Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has landed himself in hot water after criticising his Stuttgart bosses for giving into pressure from ‘pubescent’ fans prior to sacking coach Markus Babbel.

Babbel was fired on Sunday and replaced by former Tottenham Hotspur boss Christian Gross before the side’s impressive 3-1 win over Romania champions Unirea Urziceni on Wednesday to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Lehmann claims Stuttgart’s bosses simply bowed to the demands of angry fans who insisted Babbel was sacked following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Bochum in the Bundesliga to leave them third from bottom in the table.

But Stuttgart’s general manager Horst Heldt, with the club winning just two of their 15 Bundesliga games under Babbel, insists Lehmann is wrong.

“These are statements which of course we cannot tolerate,” Heldt told German broadcaster Sat.1.

“His (Lehmann’s) timing was wrong and his statements were completely wrong.

“We reached the decision together with the (previous) coaching team and afterwards, we even ate together.

“His statements come from pure egotism.”

Heldt did not say whether disciplinary action would be taken against Lehmann, 40, who retired from international football in August 2008.

Lehmann spoke out against Heldt and Stuttgart’s hierarchy last weekend, accusing them of listening to a group of hardcore supporters.

“There was a certain bunch of fans, most of whom are just going through puberty, and that’s what influenced the club in making certain decisions,” Lehmann told German channel Sky.

“That’s the way it is in football.”

The Stuttgart goalkeeper said he was shocked after a groups of angry fans stopped the team bus to shout insults and chant death threats, prompting police intervention.

Lehmann said the club now had to look into how it should deal with those fans in the future.

The ex-Arsenal goalkeeper is set to retire at the end of the season, but his side now are in the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League which will be made on December 18.