Sports board introduces ideas
© Imago
Frank Baumann had succeeded in his first surprise before the official start as the sports director of FC Schalke 04. In Miron Muslic, he and the Gelsenkircheners presented a new trainer on Saturday, which was previously mainly an expert. The next day Baumann introduced himself – objectively, clearly, calm. The former national player waived large slogans and promises and gave an insight into his ideas for squad planning.
The highly indebted Schalke need income and have to reduce their squad so that Baumann has scope for design. Sales candidates who could bring money are Schalke’s best scorer Moussa Sylla and junior international Taylan Bulut. “There are two players who have a certain market. But we are only ready to give the players when we get suitable offers,” emphasized Baumann. A whereabouts are not excluded, “but both of them stay here, I think is unlikely.”
Baumann promised a larger squad break. “You can speak of the team will get a new face in the new season,” said the 49-year-old. Captain Kenan Karaman and returnee Timo Becker are considered important managers around which the team is to be designed. With goalkeeper Loris Karius, whose contract expires, Baumann indicated slightly optimistically: “I can well imagine that he will go into the new season with us.”
Overall, the course on the transfer market will be different. “I don’t want to rely on borrowing, but I don’t exclude borrowing. If it fits – why not?” It is important that these players either contribute to the increase in quality or are brought with a purchase option. Last season, Schalke had signed 18 new players, none of them loan.
Schalke 04: Baumann avoids large announcements – Klopp as a model for Muslc
Baumann did not take the word climb in his mouth. “After two years of relegation battle in the second division, it would be presumptuous to speak of great goals. We should be humble, realistic.” However, he was optimistic “that we can bring Schalke back to where it belongs”. Baumann wants to achieve this with a clear game philosophy. “We want to play active football, we want to play determined football,” he said. This premise was at the beginning, then you were looking for a suitable trainer and came to Muslic.
“We wanted to do someone who developed players better. Someone who conveyed enthusiasm,” said Baumann. In his time at Werder Bremen, he heard of Muslic. At that time he trained Cercle Bruges. With the Belgians, Muslic surprisingly reached the UEFA Conference League. Most recently, the 42-year-old worked at the English second division relegated Plymouth Argyle. Muslic relies on intensive football with pressing. Jürgen Klopp, long -time coach by Schalke’s arch -rival Borussia Dortmund, is the model.
Before Schalke plays such a or similar football, Muslic and Baumann still have a lot of work. On June 21, the new coach starts the season preparation with its new club. Last season, the Gelsenkircheners disappointed Kolossal and only landed in the table 14.