After five games this season in the Bundesliga, Sebastian Polter has still not really arrived at FC Schalke 04. But while some fans are increasingly dissatisfied, coach Frank Kramer is behind his protégé.
“We have full confidence in him. He will still be important for us, that’s why we brought him in. Every player, especially the striker, goes through less good phases in a season. And he has to work his way out of this phase now we all support him,” said the Royal Blues coach on SundayWAZ“.
Polter switched from VfL Bochum to Gelsenkirchen in the summer for around 1.5 million euros. He managed ten goals and two assists with his local rivals last season. So far he has not been able to demonstrate his skills as a goalscorer with the Knappen.
The 31-year-old is still goalless at Schalke. While he was in the starting eleven in the first two games of the season in the league at 1. FC Köln and in the DFB Cup against Bremer SV, Kramer recently no longer trusted him for the starting line-up. Polter was only a joker four times in a row.
In the role of backup for Simon Terodde, he has not offered himself for more playing time in recent weeks. His poor performances also brought him criticism from the fans. In addition, after the speculation at the end of the transfer period, some supporters doubt his identification with the club.
Wild transfer rumor at FC Schalke 04
On Deadline Day, wild rumors had made the rounds that Polter wanted to leave S04 again to join VfB Stuttgart.
Players and officials rejected the speculation, but sports director Rouven Schröder indicated that Polter is currently expressing frustration.
“I think it’s good that he’s unhappy because we’re all unhappy about the game against Union Berlin,” Schröder was quoted as saying during the week.
On the last day of the transition period, his bosses put another competitor in front of him in the person of Kenan Karaman. “I feel really good at Schalke and will do everything to get us back on the road to success!” Polter wrote on Twitter.
If it’s against his ex-club next weekend, Polter has the next chance to put the crisis behind him.