Schalke 04 has lost all four away games in the second division this year. Another bankruptcy at Hannover 96 would fuel relegation concerns.
Until now, if Schalke 04 weren’t so strong at home, the Royal Blues would have been in a relegation spot for a long time. With three wins in a row in their own arena (including against leaders FC St. Pauli), Schalke stayed afloat in the spring, but did not manage to build up a sufficient lead due to their weakness away from home. And because there were only two draws at home recently, it’s now alert level: Royal Blue.
28th matchday arrow right Sun., from 1.30 p.m. live – Hannover 96 against Schalke 04 arrow right
Frightening form in a foreign country
On Sunday (April 7th, 2024) Schalke will have to become the second best team in the second half of the season and face Hannover 96. After four away defeats this calendar year with a goal difference of 3:13, Gelsenkirchen’s chances of success are extremely manageable. Points would be so important for the club, which was runner-up six years ago – the lead over relegation place 16 is now only two points, and in 17th place it is only three points.
It’s correspondingly uneasy around the club, the 3rd league scenario concerns the public – and the team notices it too. “We still have seven games and have not been relegated yet. I will do everything together with the team to ensure that this doesn’t happen,” promised coach Karel Geraerts. “We can only stop this by winning games. And as quickly as possible.”
The remaining program of Schalke 04 match day opponents table position before the 28th match day 28. Hannover 96 (A) 5. 29. 1. FC Nürnberg (H) 10. 30. SV Elversberg (A) 11. 31. Fortuna Düsseldorf (H) 3 32. VfL Osnabrück (A) 18. 33. Hansa Rostock (H) 17. 34. Greuther Fürth (A) 7.
Schalke will no longer have any players if they are relegated
Schalke want to ensure they stay in the league as quickly as possible. Also so that the players’ futures can be clarified promptly, because not a single professional has a contract for the 3rd league. As early as December 2023, “Sport Bild” reported that Schalke had refrained from including a clause in the working papers that would ensure the validity of the DFL professional contracts (only apply to the two highest divisions) in the 3rd league.
“It is not clear where we will be in two months. Nothing is certain, so there are no guarantees for anyone. It is clear that everyone is waiting until there is clarity, but I expect professional behavior. I told the players: If the “If the last seven weeks go well, they will have good options – if not, they won’t have any good options,” said Geraerts, whose big hope is two offensive players.
Kenan Karaman has been struggling with pain for months and has had to take breaks from training, but he can storm again in Hanover. And for Assan Ouedraogo, more playing time is possible again after two short appearances after an injury break of over four months. “He can be an important weapon for us in the last seven weeks,” said Geraerts.
Geraerts changes game preparation
In order to overcome the away weakness and turn things around, the Belgian coach is thinking about everything. About changes in the starting eleven, about tactics, but also about the entire preparation for Hannover. “I believe in structures, they are always important. But I tried to change little things this week. You can be sure that I won’t just accept it, but will try to push the team and give them energy “said Geraerts.
He didn’t want to reveal too many details, but: “An example: Normally we talk about the opponent in a block of about 25 minutes. This week I divided it up, one day we talked about the offensive, another day about the defense, and then again about other little things. There will be other little changes, we have a plan for Sunday – on the field and also off the field,” said Geraerts.
Ben Manga should come – if he stays in the league
While the team and coach fight to stay in the second division, the club is already trying to position itself for a more successful future. According to consistent media reports, Ben Manga should come as a squad planner in the event of relegation. Those responsible believe that the 50-year-old will be able to achieve sporting success again through good transfers, especially because of his successful past at Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Schalke bosses are currently completely restructuring the scouting department for him and have already hired several Ben Manga confidants. There has also been a big change in the “Knappenschmiede”; the manager, Mathias Schober, had to leave immediately; Gerald Asamoah, as the manager of the licensed players, will be over with the professionals in the summer.
The plan for Schalke’s new beginning is in place. But first the “Schnappen” need points to stay in the league. Without that, the current measures are superfluous – then for the heavily indebted club (the liabilities were 165 million euros in mid-2023) it is a matter of existence. “As far as the third league plans are concerned, we expect that the provisional license will only be granted under certain conditions,” said CFO Christina Rühl-Hamers recently.