Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt gets club backing after cup humbling

Leverkusen were dumped out of the DFB-Pokal by third-division side Sportfreunde Lotte and Voller admitted that defeat was the last thing they needed with the club - who have finished in the top five in each of the last seven seasons - languishing in 11th spot in the Bundesliga.

"It's hard to stomach," Voller told Kicker magazine. "We've got an important week ahead which could prove decisive for our entire season."

The Werkself travel to struggling Wolfsburg on Saturday before heading to Spurs in the Champions League and then hosting Darmstadt ahead of the international break.

Voller added: "Of course he (Schmidt) has our support, but he also knows that he needs to deliver.

"Roger knows that the heat is on because one thing is for sure - we are not going to compromise on our expectations.

"There is no ultimatum. We want to try to turn the corner again, with him."

Schmidt will not be on the touchline this weekend as he serves the second game of a ban sanctioned after he insulted his Hoffenheim counterpart Julan Nagelsmann during last weekend's 3-0 defeat.