A mixture of pride and disappointment: The Schalke Uchida, Neustaedter, Nastasic, Sweepers and Wellenreuther (left to right) after a memorable European Cup night
How many times had been discussed about the game system of FC Schalke 04 in recent weeks. Far too defensive and unattractive, was usually the tenor. After the defeat in the derby against Borussia Dortmund had even asked Roberto Di Matteo the propagated his own safety Football Schalke in question.
Less than two weeks later, the people who see kick Schalke rub their eyes in disbelief. The basic order is remained the same, but hearken let the visual impression and the results. Suddenly the team Di Matteo knows how to interpret concept so that plenty of goals are scored and even Real Madrid falters.
When 4: 3 missed in the Spanish capital Schalke during a highly exciting evening whilst just to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the most after the 0: 2 in the first leg had thought impossible. But at the Bernabeu Stadium, it was much closer to than generally believed; the return game was for real nail-biter to.
“We have a huge game made”
What was recently the case Bundesliga home win over Hoffenheim (3: 1) was observed already, has been strengthened at the Bernabeu: Schalke sparkled with enthusiasm and reached, despite the seemingly hopeless situation, doggedly with. The Outsider went three times in the lead and was also a temporary backlog at the score of 2: 3 do not be discouraged. “We have a huge game made,” said team captain Benedikt Höwedes after the final whistle. “We played brave and not be of this world-class team to impress. Too bad that we no longer rewarded with the last gate that was missing. “
Common einschwören with the fans before the game Photogallery
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The chance to score a fifth goal was, in the final phase entirely, but remained unused. A historic brand have set in Madrid Schalke yet. They are the first team suffered four goals against Real in a co-match of the Champions League in their own stadium. Even in the eyes of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar “was still a bit more to it.”
This was more than the setting in the lineup. The Dutch striker leads eden recovery back to a change which abzeichne in the team. The players would bring more recently the courage to fill Di Matteo’s security concept offensively with life. “We were too defensive in some games and have made no pressure,” said Huntelaar. “Right now we do it much better and also shoot goals.”
Just the attacker itself could benefit from the football special experience. Huntelaar, once sorted out at Real after only a short time again, was no longer competitive goal since November succeeded; not least a period of four league games had brought him out of the rhythm in the first leg against Real, he had to be injured substituted. Three weeks later, he was suddenly back fully. The “Hunter”, as his fans call him, scored twice and once hit the bar; contributed so much to the fact that the “miners” from the Ruhr brought “Royal” from the Spanish capital to the brink of an extraordinary embarrassment.
old prejudices refuted
Even if a football miracle ultimately did not take place in Madrid Schalke has achieved a lot. The team refuted some prejudice, such as the insinuation that she was against strong opponents usually too scared (as in the home game against Real and the Derby in Dortmund). Above all, the team refuted the assumption Di Matteo’s current approach inevitably run out onto the old Italian catenaccio, the team take the courage to take risks and enjoy football.
With the recent introduction of the football coach looked with “mixed feelings” on the game back (his team was eliminated yes), but full of anticipation ahead. “The future of this team is secure, because we live a very young team on the court had,” says Di Matteo. He was referring to young director Max Meyer, who knew again to convince, but also to the substitute Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sane, which could be from the star-studded around the superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is not intimidated but played along merrily. Sane, son of former Bundesliga striker Souleymane Sane, even shot his first Champions League goal.
The victory in Madrid has not brought Schalke in the Champions League, but it can help for the Gelsenkirchen to regain respect, who had gone recently lost. If it succeeds the team to salvage something of the spirit of Madrid in everyday life, they could create in the battle for third and fourth perspective, to compete in the next season again with Real or similar sizes of European football.
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