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KIs it coming or not coming? The possible return of Ralf Rangnick as future sporting director has long been superimposed on all other issues at FC Schalke 04. But believing in a sports salvation in the Bundesliga is out of the question for many at the latest from 0: 5 (0: 1) at VfL Wolfsburg, where the effect of the fourth change of manager this season was already low after the second game. Dimitrios Grammozis vanished in an almost regrettable way. So now everything revolves around the question of who should do the sports rebuilding in the summer and free the club from its endless downward spiral.
For most fans, the answer is obviously clear: Ralf Rangnick. A petition started online Friday night demanding his commitment as a sports director and found more than 28,000 followers in the first 30 hours.
It is possible that this mood at the grassroots level will again influence the majority on the Supervisory Board. Because according to information from the “Bild” and the “Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung” there was a heated discussion about the possible return of Rangnick. The head of the supervisory board, Jens Buchta, would reportedly prefer to hire Markus Krösche, who replaced Rangnick as sporting director at RB Leipzig in 2019. But that has apparently been done. “I’m not available,” said Krösche of “Bild” (Sunday). The supervisory board member who presented Rangnick’s plan to the committee is said to have been massively attacked there at times.
Affection for Schalke?
According to constant media reports, the 62-year-old himself should be ready to return to the club he coached in 2004, 2005 and 2011. It is also obvious why many fans almost yearn for him as a savior. Rangnick most recently worked for RB Leipzig and 1899 Hoffenheim and therefore for two entities that, viewed emotionally, represent the maximum conceivable contrast to a club like Schalke 04. But he did so with great success, a clear plan and, from Schalke’s current point of view, a very tempting lack of commitment.
Rangnick has never hidden his affection for this club. The fact that a man who is currently being traded as the new national coach and almost ended up at AC Milan a year ago can obviously imagine going to the second division with the Schalke team, of course, also warms the soul of the fans.
Only one person cannot please the current development: Schalke’s new coach, Dimitrios Grammozis. On Saturday in Wolfsburg he was the only person in charge of the team who was constantly asked about Rangnick’s name and of course he did not comment on it. Whether the former Bundesliga pro is just a temporary or future fix at the bottom of the table, he’s more in doubt than ever in the context of a possible Rangnick comeback.
Furthermore, Grammozis had to witness an appearance in his only second game as Schalke manager, who initially leaned in the wrong direction due to a rare own goal by Shkodran Mustafi (minute 31) and after the break with more goals from Wout. Weghorst (51), Ridle Baku (58th), Josip Brekalo (64th) and Maximilian Philipp (79th) went dramatically down the drain. “You can tell that the last few months have left their mark on the heads of the players,” said the coach.
