With the second coach change in the season, FC Schalke 04 want to prevent the fall into the second division. After only ten games, the Bundesliga club split from coach Manuel Baum on Friday, confirming reports from several media. In the last two games of the year, Schalke’s coach of the century Huub Stevens looks after the team.
For Stevens it will be the fourth term as Schalke coach. Most recently, he had saved Royal Blue from relegation between March and May 2019. The 67-year-old Dutchman will sit on the bench against Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday and in the DFB Cup at SSV Ulm on Tuesday. Mike Büskens will support as an assistant trainer.
“The home game against Arminia Bielefeld is of immense importance for our club. The disappointing performance against SC Freiburg showed us that the team needs fresh impetus to be able to play the game successfully. We trust Huub Stevens and Mike Büskens to do just that to “, sports director Jochen Schneider was quoted in the message. A press conference was scheduled for 2 p.m.
And then? Is there a sparkle?
The 41-year-old Baum took over the traditional club from David Wagner after the second match day, but was unable to stabilize it. After twelve Bundesliga match days of the season, the team only has four points and has slipped to the bottom of the table. The team has been without a win for 28 Bundesliga games. The last success to date came on January 17th with a 2-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Under Baum, only four draws in ten games, the team most recently lost on Wednesday after a shockingly weak performance with 0-2 against SC Freiburg.
A coach experienced in relegation battle should be found as a solution for the new year. Friedhelm Funkel, who had been traded as a candidate before the separation from Baum, is said to be in the conversation. Most recently he was in charge of Fortuna Düsseldorf. Funkel expressed himself in several media. “There is absolutely no contact. I am and will remain a pensioner,” said the former Fortuna Düsseldorf coach Express. In the Rheinische Post said the 67-year-old that he actually wanted to enjoy his retirement. “I wanted to travel a lot with my wife. But you can’t do anything now,” said Funkel, referring to the corona pandemic: “That also affects my thoughts.”
Funkel did not confirm a commitment to Schalke. “I basically don’t talk about anything I don’t know about,” said the experienced coach, who has already saved numerous clubs from relegation and has great experience as a firefighter: “Now I am supposed to justify myself for things that have not yet been brought to my attention were. ” This is all “dreams of the future”.
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