Coach Karel Geraerts has ruled out resigning after FC Schalke 04’s 3-0 debacle at 1. FC Magdeburg on Saturday.
“I won’t give up. That’s the easiest thing you can do in life and in football. I won’t do it,” said the coach of the relegation-threatened second division team.
Schalke is currently 14th in the table. in the lower house and is only four points ahead of the relegation zone. After all: All of Keller’s competitors were unable to take advantage of the Royal Blues’ renewed setback.
“That’s the only positive thing this weekend, that the teams around us didn’t manage a perfect result,” said Geraerts. The 42-year-old Belgian emphasized that he was “not in panic” given the threatening situation.
Schalke showed a frightening performance in Magdeburg, especially before the break. In the end, the Revierklub’s share of ball possession was just over 33 percent.
FC Schalke 04: “If we lose faith, it’s over”
Even the loyal S04 fans stopped supporting the visitors’ block during the second half. “We can’t lie in the corner and cry. If the people around us lose faith, I can understand that,” said Geraerts. “But in the dressing room we have to keep faith, I will do everything to achieve that. If we lose faith, it’s over.”
Midfielder Paul Seguin found clear words about Schalke’s disastrous performance at times. “I’m really fed up. It’s a constant up and down. You have to be honest: we’re just bad away from home,” he rumbled on the “Sky” microphone. He hopes “it’s going to be a blast this week. We’ve got pressure on us, we have to put our eggs on the table.”
Schalke will be allowed to compete in their home arena next weekend. Whether anything worthwhile can then be achieved remains to be seen. Because the frontrunners FC St. Pauli are traveling to Gelsenkirchen.