Schalke’s Timo Baumgartl’s remarkable interview after the defeat at FC St. Pauli revealed how deep the problems at the Royal Blues lie. If good results don’t come quickly, even a change of coach won’t be able to solve the problems.
What a crash in just a few weeks. When Schalke went down to the second division almost four months ago after being relegated from the first Bundesliga, they did so with their heads held high. The club seemed to have grown together again into a real unit since coach Thomas Reis was hired. There was clearly not a single piece of paper between the board, coach, team and fans. Now, just a few weeks later, it is hard to imagine that FC Schalke 04 will get its numerous construction sites back under control. It’s burning brightly in every corner. Even a quick change of coach would probably only provide short-term relief.
The full extent of the internal upheaval became clear to outsiders for the first time when club legend Ralf Fährmann’s advisor publicly attacked Schalke coach Thomas Reis. An action that an expert as experienced in his business as Stefan Backs only dares to do if the trainer’s chair has already been occupied internally. Thomas Reis and his coaching team could only have closed the Pandora’s box that was opened in the media with outstanding results on the pitch. But there were no victories and convincing performances.
And so the rumors around the Schalke market that a large proportion of the players were dissatisfied with the coach’s tactical instructions became louder and louder. What Timo Baumgartl finally said over the Sky microphones in his remarkable interview on Saturday was simply what the majority of players (and some of the fans) apparently think. Punishing him for this is logical in this business. But Baumgartl’s words are in the world – and they will have an impact one way or another.
Lost large parts of the cabin?
Thomas Reis has obviously already, as they say, lost large parts of the cabin. ntv.de found out from those close to the club. The leading players in particular seem to have turned away from him. Miracles do happen in football all the time, but a lot would have to happen for the coach to get through this tricky situation unscathed. It seems more likely that Schalke will have someone else on the sidelines in the near future. But one thing could delay this development – and that has directly to do with the other construction sites at Schalke. Because it is currently not foreseeable that the contract with sports director Peter Knäbel, which expires in the summer of 2024, will be extended. What’s more: a hasty extension of his contract would probably cause even more unrest in the club, because Knäbel’s work is generally viewed critically.
But the new sports director André Hechelmann is also already a strong player at Schalke. The fans in particular are anything but satisfied with the signings made on the transfer market. And the experts also repeatedly criticize the Royal Blues’ squad structure. Hechelmann also knows that the coach also had problems with his work as sports director. Only a sporting miracle can prevent one of the three from having to retire at Schalke in the next few days. Otherwise the only question is who has to go first.
Fate against Paderborn?
But this immediately leads to the next construction site for the Royal Blues. Because with every further expulsion, the club’s escalating financial problems increase. Schalke had actually speculated internally about promotion. But the club is currently miles away from that. In the coming games the focus will therefore be on increasing the gap downwards. Given the turbulence and chaos throughout the club, observers close to the club believe that a total loss of control is now more likely than it has been for a long time. A return to more stable conditions will only be possible with the corresponding results on the green grass.
The season is not yet (finally) lost for FC Schalke 04 – but in the best case scenario, the team should start scoring points on Friday evening against their table neighbors in Paderborn. Otherwise nothing can be guaranteed in the current situation. And that’s exactly what everyone involved – the board, coaches and team – should be aware of. The fans have long recognized the seriousness of the situation. They are currently the only thing the club can rely on 100 percent.