Wolfsburg give McLaren vote of confidence

Bundesliga club Wolfsburg have backed under-fire manager Steve McClaren after the club’s shock exit from the DFB Pokal on Wednesday.

The former England boss was rumoured to be facing the sack following Wolfsburg’s upset loss to Bundesliga 2 side Energie Cottbus in the round of 16 of the Cup competition, but the club’s board met on Thursday and confirmed they were sticking with the 49-year-old.

The DFB Pokal loss came in addition to their sub-standard form in the Bundesliga this season, having taken just 19 points from 17 matches to sit in 13th place.

Wolfsburg general manager Dieter Hoeness confirmed there would be changes at the club in order to turn around their fortunes, but that McLaren would continue to lead the side.

“We will clean up (the squad). With this team and its makeup there can be no long-lasting success,” Hoeness said in a statement.

“We said eight weeks ago that the attitude should change. It was about passion, willingness to run and one-on-ones. We did not see a response so that is why we must act.”

“We expect from the coaches to punish severely any wrong behaviour on or off the pitch.”

“Now in the winter it is difficult but we will do our best. The road down which we will go may be painful for some of them.”

Hoeness also confirmed Wolfsburg would be getting a new fitness coach, and first-team players Karim Ziani and Caiuby would be dropped to the reserves.

McClaren himself had already flagged the need for change at the club following Wednesday’s loss to Cottbus.

“This club needs changes. They may be drastic, but I cannot control them,” McClaren said.

“We have got to take a decision quickly. Now is the time, during the winter break, to clean things up. It was simply not good enough and the first half of the season was not good enough.”

“I am disappointed, frustrated. We have problems in the dressing room, problems on the field. We have hit rock bottom.”