Strong against the KSC – and now?
Schalke’s football squirrels remain under stress
April 1, 2024, 5:33 p.m
FC Schalke 04 missed the important home win against the strong Karlsruher SC. But the good performance gives us hope in the relegation battle, although this has to be confirmed away from home. The performance against KSC was also important for the coach.
No whistles, no applause: Immediately after the 0-0 draw against Karlsruher SC, the FC Schalke 04 supporters were at a loss. Did the crisis club win a point in the relegation battle of the 2nd Bundesliga or drop two points in the home game? “I would have been happier if we had taken more,” said Schalke goalkeeper Marius Müller, but added: “In the end we have one point more than last week.” However, the lead over the relegation relegation place is still only two points. The Schalke squirrel eats with difficulty.
Coach Karel Geraerts wasn’t completely dissatisfied either, especially since his team had reacted to the 5-2 defeat at Hertha BSC. And the players were also not impressed by the negative headlines at the cash-strapped club, which had parted ways with ex-professionals Mathias Schober as director of Knappenschmiede and licensed player boss Gerald Asamoah.
“We managed to keep a clean sheet. That’s good.”
Schalke put more pressure on, fought for every ball and created numerous good opportunities against KSC, who had won three of the last five games and scored 15 goals. “So we knew what force and what quality we would have to face. We managed to keep a clean sheet. That’s good,” said Müller, who was challenged again and again on Sunday.
Although the performance was not rewarded with such an important victory, Geraerts emphasized: “I am proud of how my team handled the pressure after the defeat in Berlin.” At the same time, the 42-year-old is likely to be spared the emerging speculation about his future as Schalke coach after this appearance. At least until the next matchday, then Schalke will be guests at Fifth Hannover 96.
“At home we always manage it somehow. But now we have an away game, we have to perform differently. Now we have to be there,” demanded captain Simon Terodde emphatically. While Schalke got 24 of the total 31 points in their home games, they only got seven points away. But striker Keke Topp’s performance against KSC gives him “hope for the game in Hanover. We want to build on our performance away from home,” said the 20-year-old.