The good mood amongst the Royal Blues after a successful start to the season has recently wilted somewhat. The reason for that are the two defeats against Bayern Munich (0-3) and away to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (0-2). The team coached by Dominico Tedesco have only picked up three points out of the last three games (2-1 against Werder Bremen), which represents a poor return given the high expectations at Schalke. However, three wins in the first four league matches puts the team in seventh place as it stands. If the Royal Blues failed to get a result against the Werkself then they may lose contact with the leading group – otherwise fifth place is a possibility.
In his second year as general manager, Christian Heidel has continued to make huge changes to the FC Schalke squad: 15 players were sold, loaned out or released in the last transfer window – including the long-standing captain Benedikt Höwedes. The club spent around 40 million euros on new signings. Of those, only the 21-year-old Frenchman Amine Harit Has made an impression with three assists in the total of seven league goals for Schalke. Permanent signing Nabil Bentaleb (22) and Yevhen Konoplyanka (27) have not proved to be durable partners in attack for key player Leon Goretzka. However, Bentaleb is currently the most successful goalscorer for the Royal Blues with two goals so far. In contrast, the Spaniard Coke is not enjoying much luck: Schalke announced on Tuesday that the 30-year-old is sidelined again, this time with a knee injury that threatens to keep him out for several weeks.
The aim for coach Domenico Tedesco, who arrived in the summer, is to improve on last season's tenth-place finish and return Schalke to the European stage – and the club have backed that up with the necessary funds. The minimum target is a Europa League finish but ideally it would be qualification for the Champions League. That is still the hope amongst the Royal Blues despite all the changes in the squad. On paper, the team from Gelsenkirchen are certainly capable of it. The question is how long will it take for the 32-year-old coach to mould his team. Schalke have shown signs of that quality in the first six matches as was shown in the opening game this season in the 2-0 victory over Bundesliga runners-up RB Leipzig.
At the same time, the first six Bundesliga fixtures clearly showed the same deficits in terms of stability and confidence as under the former coach Markus Weinzierl. The team had weak phases in the matches at Werder Bremen and against newcomers VfB Stuttgart, which would probably have been ruthlessly exploited by stronger opponents. The desire to get onto the front foot again is clearly evident under Tedesco – but that has proved costly in defence with a goals conceded to date.
The recent defeat against Hoffenheim tends to cloud the good start although Schalke have been unlucky in terms of finishing at times. That has been seen as encouraging. In addition, the atmosphere in Gelsenkirchen is fairly relaxed in spite of the last two setbacks. According to the motto: Change requires patience. The Schalke club management know there is enough quality in the squad to achieve a European finish. That means they also need to be able to get results in games against direct rivals for a European spot – as in Friday's game against the Werkself.
Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
Show more
A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
Show more
Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
Show more
Justine Brandau and Lobke Loonen joined the Bayer 04 Women’s squad in quick succession this summer. The two Dutch players have been friends since their youth days, and are now playing for the same club for the first time. In an interview at the training camp in Rieden, Brandau and Loonen talk, amongst other things, about their experiences as opponents in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the dynamic within their new team and their first few weeks in Leverkusen.
Show more
