Bayer Leverkusen coach Heiko Herrlich has apologised after taking a frankly ludicrous tumble in his technical area during Wednesday night's DfB Pokal tie against Borussia Monchengladbach.

Gladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria chased a loose ball over the touchline, entered Herrlich's general vicinity and duly sent the Leverkusen boss sprawling to the floor in mock anguish.

Heiko Herrlich, l'entraîneur de Leverkusen nous a offert une simulation pour le moins grotesque hier en coupe d'Allemagne ! 😮 pic.twitter.com/AXE5thfHQ1 — beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) 21 December 2017

Quite what Herrlich was hoping to achieve is anybody's guess, with the confused look on Zakaria's face mirroring the reaction of just about everybody else in the stadium.

Leverkusen went on to win 1-0 but their coach remaining wholly contrite after the final whistle.

"That was stupid. I'd like to apologise," Herrlich told reporters, tail tucked meekly between legs.

We can't argue. It certainly was stupid.