Nobody expected this: Schalke disenchanted table leaders St. Pauli and celebrated a liberating blow in the relegation battle. These were good reasons for a break.
Simon Terodde saw salvation. The FC center forward was euphoric Schalke 04 when he was asked by reporters on Friday evening about the surprising win against FC St. Pauli. “Today I’m giving one out,” the veteran announced on the evening before his 36th birthday.
“You have to treat yourself to that,” said the second division record goalscorer after the 3-1 (1-0) win against the league leaders, which hardly anyone had predicted. The Schalke team had acted too desolately in the previous weeks, and the Hamburg team, who were so strong in terms of play, had dominated the league in the previous weeks too confidently.
“Decent pressure on the boiler”
“There was a lot of pressure on the kettle. We’ve been playing scary football recently. It’s nice that we were able to give an answer. You could see the relief,” analyzed Terodde, who hasn’t had an easy time himself.
“Everyone imagined it differently. Everyone got their chance on the pitch, but didn’t take it. Every player has to question themselves – me too,” Terodde said before the duel with Hamburg.
“If I give in too…”
The striker, who has three goals and three assists in 18 appearances so far this season, also made it clear: “Nevertheless, I have my chest out there. I can speak for myself personally: It’s going on. I don’t feel overwhelmed. If If I give in too, it will be dangerous.”
As said, so done: Terodde was involved in match winner Yusuf Kabadayi’s first two goals (44’/73′), Kenan Karaman made the decision in added time (90’+2). Coach Karel Geraerts, who came under massive criticism after three away defeats in a row with indisputable performances, had turned his team inside out, switched to five positions, changed the system and converted the six-man Ron Schallenberg into a central defender.
Geraert’s changes are taking effect
The fact that the Belgian no longer makes the team is “complete nonsense,” said Schallenberg, “that’s a lot of nonsense.” The changes worked: not only did Terodde and Kabadayi, who moved into the starting line-up, play crucial roles, the fighting attitude was also right. “It was really, really exciting,” said Schallenberg, who most recently played in defense in the U17 and the major leagues: “We brought the audience back in with a lot of passion.”
The team’s discussion after the 3-0 debacle in Magdeburg without a coach also had an impact. “We had a good opinion,” reported Schallenberg, “that was important. But even more important was the reaction on the pitch.” After the third home win in a row, the lead over the relegation place has increased to seven points.
A difficult program lies ahead
How important the threesome was, especially with a view to the coming weeks, becomes clear when looking at Schalke’s next opponents: First, the Royal Blues will welcome the counter-attacking SC Paderborn next Saturday (09.03.2024), then they will go to the up-and-coming Berlin Hertha. It’s a great relief that we’ve now gained some distance from the relegation places.
