Bundesliga: Clock ticking for Schalke's Weinzierl

Five league games played, two goals scored, ten conceded, no points and Schalke's worst start for 49 years. The numbers are not kind on Markus Weinzierl.

At 15:35 (CET) on Sunday, things were looking good for the Bundesliga's basement club. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had just headed in to give the visitors the lead against fellow strugglers Hoffenheim. But, like so much at Schalke, it wasn't to last - two Hoffenheim goals before the break were enough to confirm the Royal Blues' not-so-fab five.

The second goal in particular must have been galling for Weinzierl. The former Augsburg boss forged his reputation on defensive solidity and the space afforded to Lukas Rupp at the back post was symptomatic of the sloppiness that has marked Schalke's displays all season.

Fronting Up

"It's quite clear that we didn't do what we set out to do," Weinzierl said after the defeat. "We have to cut out the errors quickly in order for the results to change."

Goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann was a little more emphatic in his opinions: "We are in a situation where you are lost for words. Nothing works up front and we make mistakes at the back," he said.

"We lack confidence and it becomes more difficult every week. We make too many mistakes but you make these mistakes when you have no confidence. We must get back on track as soon as possible."

The board at Schalke aren't exactly known for their patience - the club has raced through six permanent managers in the last five years.-They didn't have to look far to see the difference a new boss can make. Julian Nagelsmann has transformed Hoffenheim since his appointment last February, winning more than 45 percent of his games.

But the sense is that Weinzierl and sporting director Christian Heidel, who was brought in at the same time, will be given time. Weinzierl is 41-years-old and Schalke's summer transfer policy of focusing on young talent like Breel Embolo - who impressed in flashes on Sunday - suggests the club are eyeing a long term investment.

Fans want fight

Whether the fans, who chanted "we want to see you fight" to their players on Sunday will wait long enough to see the latest 'project' come to fruition is another matter.

On Sunday, Schalke played without purpose. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar looked his age up front while natural striker Embolo toiled out wide, the new midfield pairing of Benjamin Stambouli and Nabil Bentaleb were over-run and there was a vulnerability at full-back that was exposed on both goals. Furthermore, the lack of depth was emphasized by the decision to bring on Franco Di Santo, scorer of just 2 league goals in 28 league appearances at Schalke, to chase a goal in the final fifteen minutes.

Weinzierl has plenty of credit in the eyes of Bundesliga fans, taking Augsburg in to Europe was a remarkable achievement, but there's no getting away from the fact that five defeats on the trot is much more than a blip.

The Royal Blues welcome fourth-placed Borussia Mönchengladbach to Veltins Arena next Sunday. The Foals will arrive after meeting Barcelona in the Champions League.

If Schalke and Weinzierl retain any hopes whatsoever of competing in that particular competition next season, three points are critical. If they head in to the second international break without a win - or even a point - it might be time to ask if Schalke's latest project needs to be shelved.

 

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