Our next opponents: Signs of hope for Grammozis

Position

The current season must feel like an absolute nightmare for Schalke 04 supporters and one you cannot wake up from. In a phase where the team would normally need increased vocal support from their own fans more than ever, the supporters have to look on powerless as the Royal Blues slide ever closer towards the second division. Schalke are now 13 points adrift from the play-off spot – and Dimitrios Grammozis, the fourth coach for Schalke this season, has not yet been able to turn things round. A goalless draw against fellow strugglers Mainz was followed by two defeats at Wolfsburg (0-5) and against Borussia Mönchengladbach (0-3). "The long run without wins has left its mark on the players," Grammozis recently stated. In the last 14 months there has been only one win in the Bundesliga, against Hoffenheim at the beginning of January. Since then there have been twelve matches without a win and under Grammozis there have been no goals so far. It is clear: The longer the runs continue, the more probable is the fourth relegation from the Bundesliga in the club's history.

PersonNel

One reason for the disappointing season for Schalke is definitely the extensive injury list for the Royal Blues. There has been a little improvement during the international break with some signs of hope in terms of personnel. Key defender Salif Sané plus the two forwards Mark Uth and Goncalo Paciencia are three important players of high quality returning to the squad after months on the sidelines. And the creative player Amine Harit who has recently been below par with groin problems and therefore was unable to play for 90 minutes is supposed to be fit again and therefore an option as is Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The Dutch striker made his comeback from a muscle injury against Mönchengladbach before the international break, his second appearance since his second move to Gelsenkirchen. It appears as if the former world class striker is now really fit for the first time and Huntelaar could inject the necessary penetration to the recently ineffective Schalke attack.

With several other important players such as goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann or central defender Matija Nastasic it is unclear whether they will be fit in time to face the Werkself. Definitely missing is midfielder Nabil Bentaleb who has recently undergone a groin operation.

Perfomers

Admittedly: Not much is in favour of Schalke 04 during the run-in. Except perhaps the fixture list. After the away game at Leverkusen, Schalke play four of the five teams currently in positions 13 to 17 – with Mainz 05 currently the most in form already ticked off. In addition to Bayer 04, only one other opponent is from the top third of the table. The majority of the remaining fixtures are definitely against teams where Schalke could win given the returning quality. – If the performances finally start to pick up.

ProblemS

The fewest goals scored, the most goals conceded, an historically poor season in many respects: The list of faults at Schalke 04 is obviously long. But the main problem could be an overarching one. That a team with players like Suat Serdar, Amine Harit or Mark Uth only have ten points cannot be explained purely by football issues. But Schalke are unable to find a way out of the downward spiral that started setting in a year ago. There is a lack of confidence in their own, definitely present, strengths, a lack of winning, and positive momentum is missing. Grammozis can work on making small steps forward in the short term: In the last seven Bundesliga matches, his team have only scored one goal and that was under his predecessor Christian Gross.

Prediction

Even in Gelsenkirchen, most people must now realise that there is only a residual chance of maintaining top-flight status. A team, which has only won one of 26 games this season, must win at least five of the remaining eight matches to remain in the Bundesliga. That could happen according to the fixture list but the points have to be picked up as quickly as possible so that the lights don't go out on Schalke before time. Completely independent of how the season ends, the club have answered the question of who is responsible for sporting issues from now on: Peter Knäbel has finally been promoted from the role of youth technical director to the member of the board responsible for sport and communication.