A bad season for FC Schalke 04 ends with damage limitation: “Royal Blue” has secured relegation in the 2nd Bundesliga with two match days to go. On the other hand, VfL Osnabrück’s 4-0 defeat in the catch-up game on Tuesday (May 7th, 2024) against the “Knappen” has finally sealed relegation.
The first two goals in the largely bleak game without spectators at Hamburg’s Millerntor were scored by Keke Topp and Kenan Karaman in the 2nd and 5th minutes, and in the 65th minute Assan Ouédraogo also eliminated the last doubts on the one hand and hopes on the other side, before Topp made it 4-0 again in the 75th minute.
Osnabrück’s Kühn: “You can’t give it away like that”
Osnabrück’s goalkeeper Philipp Kühn complained to Sportschau after the final whistle: “It’s a feeling of emptiness. But in the end we weren’t relegated just today, but because of the weak first half of the season. But it simply can’t be the case that we’ve already got two things in after five minutes Even if it wasn’t easy here without fans, you have to get into it and not give it away like that.
Sina Braun, Sportschau, May 7th, 2024 9:30 p.m
His coach Uwe Koschinat saw it similarly in an interview with Sportschau: “Unfortunately, we had very little chance from the start, which feels very bad regardless of relegation. We simply don’t defend well enough against physically strong opponents and have far too little up front Presence and goal threat. Everyone has to deal with that for themselves first and then it’s about finishing the last two games successfully and then starting planning for the 3rd league.”
Sina Braun, Sportschau, May 7th, 2024 9:08 p.m
Terodde: “We were right to get a lot in the face”
At Schalke the feeling was of course different: “We just wanted to put the lid on it from the first minute,” said Simon Terodde. “It’s crazy that thousands of fans were waiting for us in front of the stadium, that shows what’s going on in this club.”
Terodde continued: “We don’t actually have much to celebrate, but it’s also a great feeling, we’ve had a lot to deal with – and rightly so. But in the last six games we’ve stabilized ourselves with a style of play that’s relatively simple. I’m also proud of the team because it’s not a given that we’ve been saved with two games to go.”
Sina Braun, Sportschau, May 7th, 2024 9:07 p.m
Schalke coach Karel Geraerts analyzed: “The season is not over yet, but now we can relax a bit for two or three days.” Regarding the rumors about his future, which is reportedly back in Belgium, he said: “There’s always a lot of talk. I love being here at Schalke, the club has incredible potential. But we have to get our feet wet here Stay on the ground. Now I can have a beer with my players.”
Schalke sports director Wilmots wants to get to work
Sports director Marc Wilmots admitted: “I’m happy that we kept the second division – I would never have thought it possible that I would say something like that. But now it’s time to get to work. I’ve already had two hours with Karel Geraerts sat together, he wants to stay. Now we’ll see which system we want to play, which players we need for it – and we must never feel like champions too early again, that has to be the lesson from a season like this.”
Osnabrück and Schalke without fans in the St. Pauli Stadium
The game had been moved to the stadium of the presumably upcoming Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli due to officially discovered roof damage on the Bremer Bridge – fans were not allowed. The atmospheric throwback to the Corona period seemed to completely paralyze the Osnabrück team, especially in the starting phase; after five minutes, referee Michael Bacher could theoretically have blown the whistle again.
In any case, the amount of space the purple-whites gave Schalke Ouwejan when he crossed was pretty third division. Simon Terodde also had a lot of time and space in the center and was able to pass the ball with his chest to Topp, who showed strong nerves in front of the goal. This also applied to Karaman three revolutions later. Osnabrück, in the person of Makridis, messed up the ball in the build-up, Paul Seguin set up Schallenberg, who in turn found the Turkish international – Karaman scored from 18 meters to make it 2-0.
Osnabrück without any penetrating power
As a result, Osnabrück tried to defend itself more and occasionally launched its own attacks – but the penetration power was poor. Before substitute Ouédraogo added the third goal, things could have been much worse for VfL.
Even in the final quarter of an hour, Schalke remained almost exclusively dangerous: Seguin and Ouwejan hit the woodwork twice within a minute, then Topp walked through the Osnabrück defense again completely unhindered and scored the fourth goal.
VfL only had its first really dangerous scene with a header from Maxwell Gyamfi in the 85th minute – but Marius Müller in the Schalke goal directed the ball around the post with a lightning reflex.
Osnabrück in Pauli, Schalke against Rostock
VfL Osnabrück plays at Millerntor against St. Pauli (Sunday, May 12, 2024, 1:30 p.m.). Schalke plays at home against Hansa Rostock (Saturday, 1.30 p.m.).
2024-05-07 20:02:00
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