Opinion: Schalke lack answers
September 14, 2014
At full-time in Mönchengladbach, there were scenes of jubilation in the Nordkurve of the Borussia-Park. Meanwhile, there were glum faces in the Schalke section after Jens Keller's side lost 4-1. The third defeat from four competitive matches was never in any doubt.
Schalke's defeat revealed some glaring communication problems and some clear individual mistakes. And yet, we had expected the Royal Blues to offer so much. Teams should expect to go after the top sides, like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
After the best second half of the season in the club's history last season, the Gelsenkirchen club their sights set high this term. When they are too quick to cheer, the reality seems to be humbling.
But why is that the case? Who is to blame for Schalke's slump? Sure, Schalke have had to compensate for several selection problems. Creators, like Jefferson Farfan, Atsuto Uchida or Leon Goretzka, are injured, whilst Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Julian Draxler and Max Meyer are still not fully fit. "That shouldn't be an excuse," insisted goalie Ralf Fährmann after the defeat in Gladbach.
He couldn't offer an immediate explanation for Schalke's performance, however. Keller's players appear clueless - and in some cases helpless. They seem to take refuge in the same, old clichés when questioned, so solutions for the problems look a long way off. More of the same is certainly not going to change anything.
No peace at the club
Captain Benedikt Höwedes complained - and not for the first time - that some players had not been carrying out tactical instructions correctly. That's the reason he was also critical of the players, as well as the coach.
If the players don't respond to the ideas of the head coach, then that's because of how he articulates those ideas.
Jens Keller apparently hasn't found those words yet. Since taking the head coach role two years ago, Keller has come under criticism on a regular basis - and that probably won't disappear, even if Schalke manage to beat Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.