After three match days in the 2nd Bundesliga, FC Schalke 04 is only 13th in the table. Above all, the way in which the 0-1 defeat at Eintracht Braunschweig came about last Sunday left the Royal Blues at a loss. Newcomer Ron Schallenberg tried to clear things up.
The midfielder didn’t mince his words after the second away defeat in league two. Similar to his colleague and S04 captain Simon Terodde, he was harsh on himself and his teammates. “Everything was lacking, it was just bad,” Schallenberg was quoted as saying by the “Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung”.
The miners seemed completely cramped, especially when they had possession of the ball. Instead of being creative and equipped with the right offensive drive to create their own moments of danger, the Bundesliga relegated repeatedly allowed themselves to lose the ball negligently. “So we got one wave after the other,” recognized Schallenberg.
FC Schalke 04: Schallenberg calls for “basics”.
After the defeat in Braunschweig, the new signing from Paderborn was alarmed. “It’s hard to believe. We didn’t have the courage,” criticized the 24-year-old, who signed a contract with the Ruhr area club until 2026.
For the upcoming second division duel with Holstein Kiel, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening, Schallenberg took on the responsibility for himself and his men: “We have to bring intensity to the pitch from the start, be braver with the ball and also lead defensive duels better,” said the previous regular, who referred to the “basics” that “are crucial in the second division”.
Schallenberg has been on the pitch for more than 90 minutes in all four competitive games played by FC Schalke this season.