Werder Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs has threatened a clear out at the club after a "gutless" 3-0 loss to Panathinaikos in the Champions League.
"That wasn't Werder Bremen," Allofs told reporters after Tuesday's home defeat left Werder bottom of Group B. "All we can do after that is apologise.
"If the players don't want to get a few things straight in future we'll either have to lower our expectations or part with the players. And we don't want to lower our expectations."
Werder qualified for the Champions League for the fifth successive season after finishing runners-up to Bayern Munich but this term have been struggling in both competitions.
They have three points from four games in Group B, although they still have a decent chance of reaching the last 16.
In the Bundesliga they are down in eighth place, nine points behind surprise leaders Hoffenheim.
"I've seen us play badly before but I can't remember seeing a game in which we've been so gutless, offering so little resistance at the end," Allofs said.