FC Schalke 04 is currently in danger of relegation in the 2nd Bundesliga. Coach Karel Geraerts has not managed a turnaround yet. A fellow competitor, of all people, shows what a positive influence a new coach can have.
How serious the situation actually is can often be seen in professional football by the clarity of public confessions. “That’s not an issue, I’m relying on continuity. Schalke has already had too many coaching changes, that would be too easy,” said Schalke sports director Marc Wilmots during the week. S04 football teacher Karel Geraerts should be happy about such a commitment, but the Belgian also realizes that the pressure on him and his work has increased to the maximum.
Schalke have played twelve games under Geraert’s aegis so far, but the result is anything but promising. Five wins, one draw and six defeats is the sobering result. Including some frighteningly lifeless performances such as in Karlsruhe, Düsseldorf or most recently in Kiel. In addition, the team’s recent form curve is also showing a worrying downward trend.
The Royal Blues were only able to score three points in the four games of the second half of the season. The relegation places in the 2nd Bundesliga are only two points away for the self-proclaimed promotion candidate – and therefore threateningly close. “There’s been enough talk in the last few weeks. Now it’s just about performing on the pitch,” says Geraerts. On Saturday (February 17th, 2024, 1 p.m.) the newly promoted Schalke team will host Wehen Wiesbaden.
Catastrophic (interim) balance sheet
The construction sites in the team are diverse and can be found in all parts of the team. Probably the most serious problem for Schalke: Geraerts cannot get the defensive problems under control. A total of 42 goals conceded in 21 games is a downright catastrophic (interim) balance (2 goals conceded per game).
In the twelve games under Geraerts alone, the team conceded 22 goals (1.83 per game). The 42-year-old Belgian has not yet seen any significant improvement. And the hair-raising positional errors and fatal misfires that Schalke’s defenders around Marcin Kaminiski, Henning Matriciani, Tomas Kalas and Derry Murkin repeatedly make have caused great incomprehension among those in charge and the club’s supporters for weeks.
No stability
But even in the defensive midfield, Ron Schallenberg – who came from Paderborn with great praise – and his partner Paul Seguin (from Union Berlin) sometimes seem completely overwhelmed. While Seguin often tries to contribute something to the build-up of the game, Schallenberg mainly stands out for his mostly destructive cross and back passes.
Because both players have a lot of trouble giving the team defensive stability in the center, the opponents come dangerously in front of the Schalke goal far too often.
Terodde completely out of shape
And there are also huge problems on the offensive. Attacker Simon Terodde (3 goals) has been completely out of shape since the turn of the year. Kenan Karaman (6) at least had a good moment against Eintracht Braunschweig and scored the only goal of the game.
After the winter break, Schalke scored just two goals in four games (0.5 per game). In the eight games last year there were a total of 17 goals (2.13 per game). Winter newcomer Darko Churlinov has also not been able to make any significant impact so far.
Braunschweig as a role model
Schalke’s list of mistakes is long. And Karel Geraerts – actually a fan of the 3-5-2 system – has not been able to find an adequate playing system for his team in the past few months. How important the influence of a coach can be on the success of a team can be seen in parallel and extremely impressively in Braunschweig.
Daniel Scherning took over at the traditional Lower Saxony club on matchday 13, when the club seemed barely viable with just five points and a disastrous goal difference (7:24). If only the following games under Scherning were included in the ranking, Eintracht would be in a promotion spot with 18 points. Only Holstein Kiel is one point better during this period.
The Ruhr area club is currently very far away from such hopeful figures. Against Wehen Wiesbaden it’s about being able to get a little breathing room in the relegation battle – and probably also about whether Wilmots has to renew his commitment to Geraerts again.
