Jens Lehmann has been no stranger to controversy and after his side lost 4-0 to Werder Bremen at the weekend the Stuttgart goalkeeper was at the centre of more controversial bust-up as he labeled Die Grün-Weißen star Diego "a cheat".
The Brazilian playmaker scored a free-kick and provided two further assists for Claudio Pizarro and Markus Rosenberg.
The 39-year-old Lehmann insisted that Diego had dived to earn the free-kick and then went on to take it from an incorrect position.
The latest outburst comes just weeks after Lehmann ripped the headband from team-mate Khalid Boulahrouz in a recent UEFA Cup tie at Zenit St Petersburg.
"I told the referee Diego had put the ball down to a different position, the position where the alleged foul had happened," Lehmann told Spox.com.
"Players are always trying to succeed, with putting the ball into a better angle to goal. And Diego did that there too.
"I have told him he is a very good player, but also a cheater, someone that fakes and claims free-kicks through faking.
"He then pushed me and insulted me, but that was not so bad. I am always telling my team-mates not to cheat.
"Now I have done that with an opposite player. I cannot accept nor respect such players. Not as part of my team and not as part of the opposite team."
Diego responded by telling his club's website: "He should focus on saving balls. I think it is not a part of his job to discuss other players. He is not the referee."
Related links:
Team
Personal
Also see:
The Brazilian playmaker scored a free-kick and provided two further assists for Claudio Pizarro and Markus Rosenberg.
The 39-year-old Lehmann insisted that Diego had dived to earn the free-kick and then went on to take it from an incorrect position.
The latest outburst comes just weeks after Lehmann ripped the headband from team-mate Khalid Boulahrouz in a recent UEFA Cup tie at Zenit St Petersburg.
"I told the referee Diego had put the ball down to a different position, the position where the alleged foul had happened," Lehmann told Spox.com.
"Players are always trying to succeed, with putting the ball into a better angle to goal. And Diego did that there too.
"I have told him he is a very good player, but also a cheater, someone that fakes and claims free-kicks through faking.
"He then pushed me and insulted me, but that was not so bad. I am always telling my team-mates not to cheat.
"Now I have done that with an opposite player. I cannot accept nor respect such players. Not as part of my team and not as part of the opposite team."
Diego responded by telling his club's website: "He should focus on saving balls. I think it is not a part of his job to discuss other players. He is not the referee."
Please subscribe to our RSS feed to receive more updates. You can also subscribe by Email and enjoy our latest posts sent directly to your inbox.
Related links:
Team
Personal
Also see:
