If you thought Schalke’s dismal season couldn’t get any worse, you’d be mistaken. Following their 16th league defeat of the season, Schalke chairman Jens Buchta dismissed several senior members of staff including their third manager of the season, Christian Gross as their demise continues.
Gross only arrived at the start of January but, one win in ten league games has prompted yet another change in the dugout. His assistant Rainer Widmayer has also left the club.
On top of that, several other senior figures have lost their jobs. First team coordinator Sascha Riether, fitness coach Werner Leuthard and Sporting Director Jochen Schneider have paid the price for Schalke’s dismal season.
Its another dark chapter in what has been an abysmal couple of years for one of the Bundesliga’s biggest clubs. Relegation is becoming inevitable and there are several reasons behind the Schalke demise both on and off the pitch.
Another Dark Chapter in the Demise of Schalke
Five Senior Figures at the Club Sacked
Following Saturday’s defeat to Stuttgart in which Schalke shipped five, the club have announced drastic changes.
After just ten league games in charge, Christian Gross has been dismissed. The heavy losses to Borussia Dortmund and his former club Stuttgart have prompted the change. He was their best performing manager this season, collecting five points from his ten games including their sole victory against Hoffenheim.
Gross is followed out the door by assistant Rainer Widmayer, first-team coordinator Sascha Riether and fitness coach Werner Leuthard. Yet another overhaul of personnel in a season of constant change at Schalke.
Also leaving is Sporting Director Jochen Schneider. Schneider was leaving at the end of the season anyway but the club have terminated his contract early. He, like many, is taking the blame for an abysmal season.
Schalke have announced replacements for the foreseeable future. Peter Knabel will take on the role of interim Sporting Director. He will be assisted by U19 coaches Norbert Elgert and Mike Buskins.
While Gerald Asamoah takes on the role of the first-team coordinator until the end of the season. The club have yet to confirm who is taking over the poison chalice that is the first team manager’s role.
A mass exodus of senior staff would suggest a last move to try and beat relegation. However, with relegation seeming inevitable unless their fortunes drastically change, it could be a sign that the Schalke hierarchy are planning for next season.
Either way, these drastic changes signal how dismal things are at Schalke. One of the Bundesliga’s most prestigious club is on its knees and sinking towards the German second division.
The Hunt for the Fourth Permanent Schalke Manager This Season
A disastrous campaign has culminated in several coaches trying to steam the tide and ignite Schalke’s season. David Wagner was already under immediate pressure before the season began following a poor finish to the 2019/20 season with not a single win in any of their final 16 league games.
Defeats in their opening two league games saw him dismissed. Former Augsburg manager Manuel Baum was second to try his luck. He lasted ten winless games which saw him collect just four points. Schalke were hoping it was the third time lucky with the experienced Christian Gross but he only won one of his ten league games in charge.
Whoever comes in will be assisted by Schalke legend Gerald Asamoah. Asamoah was a loyal servant to the club as a player, winning five major trophies in his time with the club. He loves the club but faces an extremely tough challenge alongside the new manager.
Schalke are rock bottom with just nine points collected from their 23 Bundesliga matches. They boast the league’s worst defence and attack. It’s 61 and counting in terms of goals conceded. Sorting the defence must be a top priority if they are to mount any serious survival charge.
Offensively, they are no better, scoring just 16 goals scored. They lack creativity, confidence and heads drop as soon as they concede. Whoever does come in has to turn the tide and instil a mentality you can only get with picking up positive results.
Schalke need momentum. They need something to spark their season into life which could arrive in their next league game. Schalke face Mainz- the side directly above them.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to pick up a win and make some ground on the sides above. It’s a huge game for both sides and, if Schalke could collect maximum points, it could provide the momentum and belief they are crying out for.
Die Konigsblauen Just Cannot Buy a League Win
Winning games is proving an elusive task for Schalke. They went on a 30 match winless run which stretched throughout 2020 and the start of this year. It was almost a year to the day between Schalke’s last win of 2019/20 and the first of this season.
Both came at home but there form at the Veltins Arena has been very poor. They have collected just five points on their own patch – the worst in the Bundesliga. They have lost their last four at home and overall have sunk to nine defeats in their 12 home games this season.
Unsurprisingly, their away form is no better. They haven’t collected a single away win this season. In fact, their last away success was against Werder Bremen in November 2019. That’s 22 Bundesliga away games and counting for Die Konigsblauen.
They just cannot win games. It’s proving a difficult task and the constant change at the club is not helping. A settled team has been elusive hence why their defence and attack is the worst in the league.
The Players Must Take Responsibility for the Demise of Schalke
While several senior figures have paid the price in the last 48 hours, the players must take a good look at themselves. Their performances have been well below par and in some cases, the application and attitude has left a lot to be desired.
Ill discipline off the pitch has also played its part. Amine Harit, who is arguably Schalke’s best player, has been heavily criticised and punished by the club for his behaviour. His suspension came about after a clash with then Schalke manager Manuel Baum. He was told to train alone but was eventually brought back into the first-team picture. His performances have been disappointing and the new manager needs to unlock him in the coming games.
Algerian international Nabil Bentaleb has also had a turbulent season. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United midfielder was also told to train alone following his behaviour. Christian Gross brought him back into the picture but he also flattered to deceive. Schalke, at the time of his suspension, announced he would leave the club by the summer of 2021.
Both Harit and Bentaleb were exiled by then technical director Michael Reschke. He also played a role in the sacking of striker Vedad Ibisevic. The Bosnian international, who is the fourth-highest scorer in Bundesliga history, left on December 31 following a training ground bust-up with Schalke coach Naldo.
While there have been rumours of a dressing revolt in recent times. Christian Gross cited this as a reason for his sacking. The bottom line is the players have to take responsibility for their woeful performances and attitude to the situation Schalke are in.
The constant changes haven’t helped but the players must stand up and be counted in the final few months of the season. They have 11 games to save the club and ultimately their careers.
Financial Crisis Adding to the Schalke Problem
While on-field matters have caused serious problems, Schalke’s status off the pitch is no better. Ahead of this season, the club confirmed debts in excess of €200 million which unsurprisingly meant a lack of investment and departures of big earners and arguably better players.
Of course, the coronavirus pandemic has hit clubs hard but chasing the Champions League dream has caught up with the club. Across the two transfer windows, Schalke have spent next to nothing on new signings. Four summer arrivals including striker Goncalo Paciencia arrived on either a free transfer or loan deal.
It was a similar story in January that saw Schalke bring in players including Sead Kolasinac and Shkodran Mustafi on loan or free transfers. No doubt previous managers will cite a lack of investment and control of transfers in their reasons for Schalke’s struggles.
Many clubs have had to be clever in the transfer window. Relegation to Bundesliga 2 will hit the club harder. They will pray the likes of Weston McKennie and Ozan Kabak will leave for significant fees in the summer after their loan spells at Liverpool and Juventus, but Schalke could only demand that if they remain a Bundesliga club.
They are in financial turmoil and sacking several senior members of staff across the season cannot be easing their worries. Those at Schalke must get the next few appointments, both on and off the pitch, right but, the reality is, their finances are in dire straits which has led to their demise.
Promising Academy Products: The Light at the End of the Tunnel
The financial turmoil at the club has offered some positive hope. Due to their precarious situation, the first team coaches this season have relied on the talented crop of youngsters in the academy.
Several young players have made the breakthrough to the first team. They have been thrust into a difficult situation for any young player to handle but to their credit, they have left it on the pitch and given their all.
Timo Becker, Malick Thiaw, Can Bozdogan and Nassim Boujellab have all played for the first side this season. At times they have impressed and they offer real hope for the future whatever division they will play in next season.
Arguably the best performer from the academy this season has been United States international Matthew Hoppe. A hattrick on just his fifth Bundesliga appearance secured Schalke their only victory this season. Since then, he has been a regular for the first team starting ahead of the returning Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
He has five league goals for the club and the 19-year-old is their top scorer this season. Hoppe’s emergence offers real belief for the future of the football club.
The academy has been a glimmering light in an extremely dark time for the football club. Whatever division they are in next season, you will likely see further academy products step up to represent the first team.
The Demise of Schalke is a Sad Story That Craves a Happy Ending
Years of change, going for glory and a poor playing squad have culminated in the demise of a giant football club in Schalke that nobody could off written.
It’s a desperately sad situation Schalke find themselves in but it’s their own fault. They got themselves into this mess and they must get themselves out. Mismanagement at the top has led to years of change and below-par squads. Their season stinks of relegation and time is running out to turn their season around. It’s a cliché but its 11 cup finals for Die Konigsblauen in the final few months of the campaign.
The next managerial appointment is crucial for the future of the football club. It’s a difficult task for whoever comes but, if they achieve survival it will go down as the greatest escape in Bundesliga history. It would give those Schalke fans a happy ending to a horror story and demise they are witnessing before their eyes.
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