The profoundly humiliating situation of Schalke 04 has plunged deep.
FC Schalke 04 is on the verge of making a statement against their struggles, leading 3-0 at home against Darmstadt 98. However, they ended up losing the game, causing even more doubt and questioning among the fans.
Kenan Karaman, the talented captain of the second division FC Schalke 04, can convey a lot without speaking a word. This was no exception on this particular Friday evening at the Gelsenkirchen Arena, where the once-great but current struggling giant suffered an unexpected defeat against SV Darmstadt 98. The final score was a shocking 3-5 (3-1), leaving the home team to endure the anger of the fans who had witnessed their 3-0 lead evaporate, followed by a complete collapse.
No one could understand why. Why such a devastating loss? Was there an explanation? Karaman, seemingly at a loss for words, said, "Everyone's asking if this really happened." From Schalke's perspective, it sadly was. "We threw away the second half," the captain lamented. The words "understatement" cannot even begin to describe the disintegration of team unity and morale. Amin Younes and Karaman had two golden opportunities to extend the lead to 4-1 right after halftime. But the ensuing stadium power outage, resulting in the temporary loss of floodlights and TV cameras, changed everything. By the time the lights came back on, it was 2-3. The Sky spectators missed that unlucky event.
And just like that, the dream of a win faded away. Schalke was unable to recover, becoming ensnared in their downward spiral that has haunted them for years. Last season, they had come close to relegation to the third league, a disaster that would have been devastating for the club. This season had been expected to be smoother, easier. But the deep-seated nervousness that plagues Schalke seems impossible to shake off. Their train to success is once again rushing towards disaster, with only four points after six games.
Initially, everything seemed to go well. It was 3-0 after 39 minutes. The crowd celebrated, and the Schalke fans held on to hope. The team was tenacious in duels and played offensively, with no thoughts of the nightmare that was to come. But the ghosts of the past re-emerged, snuffing out any chance of victory. Coach Karel Geraerts, who has had a challenging tenure, was once again under criticism, and his dismissal seemed imminent. Rumors of a conflict with squad planner Ben Manga, who reportedly is not a fan of Geraerts, did not help improve his situation.
Will Geraerts be able to weather this latest setback? The odds are against him. "I'm a sportsman. I don't give up," said Geraerts defiantly. "I keep going. That will be my approach tomorrow, next week, for my entire football career." His supporters include the captain, who defends the coach's strategies.
Lack of conditioning as a possibility?
Darmstadt put pressure on Schalke, even more so after 2-3 in the 56th minute. Schalke sought stability, but only found turmoil. Karaman refused to accept a lack of conditioning due to weak training as an explanation. "I don't think we're not training enough. Our training sessions are intense. Maybe something is wrong with our mental state–we give up when things get tough, resulting in counterattacks and our downfall."
Who can save the day now? Geraerts. But his fate seems increasingly uncertain. When asked if he felt that the key individuals in the club still supported him, the Belgian responded, "That's for the sporting director, the supervisory board, or others to decide." However, who could be the team's savior? Mike Büskens, a popular interim solution since early August, is no longer with the team. And Schalke has attempted countless measures to turn their fortunes around since the turn of the millennium: 33 coaches (including interim solutions) have tried their hand, including famous names like Huub Stevens, Jupp Heynckes, and Ralf Rangnick. They are a testament to Schalke's rich history, their time in the Bundesliga, and their participation in the Champions League. Desperate times called for desperate measures, leading to experiments with unlikely coaches such as Roberto di Matteo, Manuel Baum, and Christian Gross. Now, the question hangs in the air: what is next for Schalke in Gelsenkirchen? One thing remains constant: the inevitable memes of the inevitable Peter Neururer.**
Despite Geraerts' defiance and Karaman's support, the pressure on the coach continues to mount. The FC Schalke 04 captain, Kenan Karaman, expressed his concerns about the team's mentality, suggesting that they give up when faced with adversity, leading to their downfall. Regardless of the explanation, FC Schalke 04, once a formidable force in German football, finds itself in a precarious position, struggling to regain its former glory.
