Terodde goes berserk in the locker room
Karaman accuses Schalke players of misconduct
27th January 2024, 06:53 AM
After a disastrous first half of the season, FC Schalke dreams of a comeback in the 2nd Bundesliga. However, their hopes were quickly dashed after just two games into the second half. They suffered a debacle against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
Almost 10,000 fans traveled to Kaiserslautern to support their team. They had made the long journey from Gelsenkirchen, hoping to cheer on their team and bring home three points. Three points that would give them hope of Schalke 04 escaping the relegation zone in the 2nd Bundesliga. They wore blue and white ponchos, unfurled a gigantic flag over their fan block, creating a spine-tingling atmosphere. But then it all went wrong: they were humiliated with a 1-4 defeat.
It was a disaster for the visitors and a redemption for the hosts. The massive turmoil surrounding the traditional club, which had previously lost seven consecutive league matches, may now ease slightly. In the week leading up to the relegation clash against Schalke, false news about the team and the coach had been spread on social media, which the club and Dimitrios Grammozis publicly denied. The coach was even furious and reserved the right to take legal action. Marlon Ritter, who captained Kaiserslautern on this occasion, said: “It was definitely something special for me. I played for Schalke for seven years, that’s my club of the heart. It’s a great day for me.”
The euphoric fans who had traveled with great hope fell silent. All their hope had been snatched away. Not by the hosts, who, despite playing with great passion, were not footballing powerhouses. No, the hope had been taken away by their own players. They had achieved nothing. No flow of play, no shots on goal. And even worse, no attitude required to alleviate the biggest concerns (for now). There was not only great anger in the stands (albeit silent).
“It is very difficult to find the right words”
According to “WAZ,” striker Simon Terodde lost his temper in the hallway leading to the locker room. He repeatedly hit an advertising board and refused to calm down even when approached by a steward. He was frustrated by what his team had botched up. Schalke’s performance had been terrible. Only newcomer and returnee Darko Churlinov had a few good moments. Coming on in the second half, he scored the equalizer in the best ten minutes of the visitors. A wake-up call? No, the Gelsenkirchen players fell back into the lethargy of the first half, with technical errors and alarming apathy. They didn’t step up, they collapsed.
Kenan Karaman, one of the best players this season, was later bewildered and harshly criticized his teammates. He ranted on Sky: “It is very difficult to find the right words. We had high aspirations. We were not present in the duels, Kaiserslautern was more aggressive and always one step ahead. Everyone needs to look in the mirror now. We don’t need to dream of climbing a few places, but rather give everything against Braunschweig.”
Another all-or-nothing game
Currently, Eintracht Braunschweig is one place behind Schalke, in the relegation playoff position. The two teams, with their rich history but distant pasts in recent decades, are only separated by three points. Braunschweig could even surpass Schalke this weekend, setting up a potential battle between equals. Schalke had stumbled into such a do-or-die game before. In early December, they faced bottom-placed VfL Osnabrück. It was a make-or-break situation, and in the end, Schalke won 4-0, giving them hope for the future. Some even dreamed that promotion might still be within reach.
But no, it wasn’t meant to be. Schalke is back on the ground, staring into the abyss of relegation. When asked if everyone had recognized the seriousness of the situation, Karaman responded on Sky, “As I experienced it today, no.” Coach Karel Geraerts shared the same sentiment: “My team didn’t do enough, we need to understand where we stand in the table.” The worry and fear are immense. The fans are fed up. They chanted “We’ve had enough” as the players disappeared into the locker room.
In conclusion, FC Schalke’s hopes of a comeback in the 2nd Bundesliga were shattered after a humiliating defeat against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. The team’s lackluster performance and the players’ misconduct have left the fans frustrated and anxious about the future. With another crucial game against Eintracht Braunschweig on the horizon, Schalke must regroup and give their all to avoid relegation.
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