Schalke takes courage in the relegation battle after the first victory under coach Reis. A clear plan is recognized by games. The coach has already had good experiences with the next difficult opponent.
The joy of the all-important victory in the relegation battle has not clouded Schalke’s senses. Despite the joy of the 1-0 victory over Mainz 05, they classified the success before the duel with FC Bayern. Munich realistic.
“In the end it was a very small step. We are still in last place,” said striker Marius Bülter. “Still, it’s nice to have that winning feeling again.” The toughest possible task awaits the industry leader before the World Cup break. For this reason, the Royal Blues did not announce that they would start a streak.
“It’s a world-class team,” said winning goalscorer Simon Terodde, and team-mate Bülter cautiously added: “We need one good day, one bad Bayern day – and then maybe there’s something in it.”
Relief in rice
Especially in view of the tasks ahead – the opponents after the match with Bayern are the round of 16 of the Champions League Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig – Schalke’s success was so significant. “We’re happy to keep the three points here so we can at least move on,” said coach Thomas Reis, who celebrated his first win in his third game with Schalke. Schalke is two points behind Hertha BSC in the relegation zone.
The face of the team has changed under Reis. Schalke plays much more actively and puts the opponent under pressure earlier. Gelsenkirchen wins the ball closer to the opponent’s goal. Go forward faster, conquering the opponent’s penalty area is more promising.
Reis strengthens his style of football. The game with Schalke is reminding more and more of the performances of VfL Bochum last season. Under Reis, Schalke’s Ruhr rivals caused a sensation and confidently managed to stay high in the league. “He sets an example by defending this active forward,” Bülter said of the coach. “It gives a lot to our game. We’re a lot more courageous. I think that’s one of the reasons why things are going better at the moment.”
“Everyone is having fun on the field”
Schalke created plenty of chances in their 2-1 loss to Werder Bremen on Saturday, and S04 were also significantly better against Mainz. “You know something. Everybody has fun on the field,” Terodde said, looking back on the last few weeks. “You can identify with that and then every player comes into their own.”
Apart from the familiar layout and the rediscovered culture of the game, the effort is right. The fans appreciate this and have recently loudly supported the team even after losses. Unlike in the past, when people around Rudi-Assauer-Platz often dreamed of quite impossible successes, this time everyone seems to have understood: It’s all about standing up, it’s only possible together.
With all the sense of reality, this feeling also gives Schalke courage for the end of the year against the great Bavarians. “If we can manage the interaction between the lines and on the field on Saturday, we might be able to do something,” Bülter said. In any case, his coach knows how to beat the record of the German champions: Reis and Bochum won 4-2 against FCB in February.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 221110-99-464733/2