McClaren fumes after Diego's defiance

Former England manager Steve McClaren said he wants his own midfielder Diego punished after the Brazilian ignored his instructions during Wolfsburg's 1-0 defeat to Hanover.

Diego disregarded McClaren's decision to let Germany striker Patrick Helmes take an 80th-minute penalty on Saturday.

Diego's spot-kick rebounded off the crossbar and Hanover held on for the win that puts them fourth.

But with his side 12th in the German league, and dangerously close to the bottom three, McClaren was left fuming at Diego's decision and warned there will be consequences.

"Patrick Helmes was to take the penalty, then I turn round and see Diego taking it - incredible!", fumed McClaren, whose side have just one win from their last 10 league games.

"I don't know what to say, I am angry and disappointed. More over, there will be direct consequences on his part. We will discuss the matter in-house and we will see what sanctions are to be taken against him."

The Brazilian insisted he was supposed to take the spot-kick which could have given his side a point.

"For me, it was obvious I was to take the penalty," he told German television channel ZDF."This is not the first time I have taken one."

Wolfsburg's director of sport Dieter Hoeness said: "The players argued about it like kids in a playground.

"And because of that we were beaten in a match that we should never have lost."

McClaren's position is growing ever more precarious as his side are just one point from 16th and a place in the regelation zone during only his first season in charge of the 2009 German league champions.