Mega Mission Resurgence
The “old cadaver” swears in Schalke 04
3/12/2022 8:42 am
For Mike Büskens, the already difficult promotion mission at second division soccer team FC Schalke 04 begins with a hell of a lot of challenges. It is still unclear whether the original Schalke player infected with Corona can make his coaching comeback on the bench on Sunday.
Mike Büskens got in touch from the basement at home and wanted to get to the top very quickly. “Since Monday I’ve had so much energy in my old carcass that I just want to get out,” said the interim coach of Schalke 04, who is supposed to lead the relegated team back to the Bundesliga at the last minute.
Since Monday, the 1997 UEFA Cup hero has been helping out at his heart club as a short-term boss for the third time, but is currently in quarantine at home because of a corona infection. He still hasn’t given up hope that things will go up quickly – in every respect. First of all “out of the basement into the fresh air and onto the meadow”, i.e. on the sidelines on Sunday (1.30 p.m.) in the away game at FC Ingolstadt. “There’s definitely a chance, we’ll leave no stone unturned,” said Büskens.
“Need above average score”
And then, of course, on the shortest route back to the Bundesliga. That will be much more difficult with a six-point deficit before the last nine games. “For that we need an above-average number of points,” said the former “Eurofighter” and promised: “We’ll do everything we can to play a really good role in the table.”
Büsken’s work at the start is made more difficult not only by his absence, but also by a few personnel worries. Captain Danny Latza is also suspected of having a corona infection, and a PCR test should provide information. Salif Sané will miss Schalke for “two to three weeks” after suffering a muscle injury in the 3-4 draw against Hansa Rostock. In Mehemt Aydin and Thomas Ouwejan, two more professionals are not available at the bottom from Ingolstadt. Because of the suspicion of a corona infection, the use of captain Danny Latza is also questionable.
All this bad news doesn’t seem to worry Schalke’s 1997 UEFA Cup hero – nor do potential recruitment problems for the players in the current squad. “You can accuse the team of many things. But certainly not lack of character,” said Büskens, who was promoted to the Bundesliga as a player in 1987 with his hometown club Fortuna Düsseldorf and in 2012 as a coach with SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
“Buyo, you’re the only one who can make it”
Büskens admitted that it was difficult for him to succeed Dimitrios Grammozis, who was on leave. “Actually, I had found the job of my life,” said the 53-year-old, referring to his work as an “eternal” assistant coach at Schalke. The fact that he returns to the front row is also due to Huub Stevens. The royal blue coach of the century, under whom he worked on the left wing 25 years ago, advised him to do so. Saying, “Buyo, you’re the only one who can make it.”
So Büskens, who last worked at Rapid Wien as head coach in 2016, helped out for the third time after 2008 and 2009. Under difficult conditions: After a positive test, he sits at home, contact with the team is limited to telephone calls and video switching. “What’s missing is this sense of being close to the boys.”
Should he not be able to test himself free by Sunday, he will follow the game from afar – with all the emotions. Whether he is yelling at the TV like the Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart, no one will know except his family. “I won’t have a camera with me,” he said. Because: “It’s not a Mike Büskens show, it’s not about me.” It’s about “his” club.