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The idea with Christian Gross was born out of necessity. After months of almost bizarre failure, a successor to Huub Stevens was sought. One who could be trusted to secure the league through thick and thin. One of the reasons Swiss soccer teacher Gross made the shortlist was because his CV included a successful rescue mission at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. In the end, Hertha BSC did not commit it. Back then, in 2004, the Berliners finally let Hans Meyer save them from relegation.
Almost 17 years later, 66-year-old Christian Gross arrived at the Berlin Olympic Stadium as Huub Stevens’ successor. This time, however, on a much more complicated mission, in the emergency medical service for the guests of Schalke 04. Gross, who interrupted his retirement for this task, was there long enough to suspect what he was getting into. But what would start so depressing, with a 3-0 draw against Hertha BSC? “Our work also contains negative things,” Gross said.
Schalke’s fourth coach is already great this season, after his first 90 minutes he knew how to practice the optimism of his predecessors that his predecessors anticipated week after week. “We should leave the stadium with our heads held high, but not because of the performance, but because of the next game in Hoffenheim,” Gross said.
In the industry it is assigned to the category of so-called tough dogs. Hopes at Gelsenkirchen were based on the fact that Gross would wake up the team with this core competition, regardless of the fact that his winless predecessor Huub Stevens was also not necessarily criticized as a soft dog. Either way, after this Berlin premiere, hope should end for now anyway.
Gross trusts Fährmann and Hoppe
As befits a new coach, Gross put one or another surprising accent on his starting eleven. At the goal was not Frederik Rönnow, but the experienced Ralf Fährmann. In the storm, inexperienced American Matthew Hoppe, 19, played for him. And at first it wasn’t even bad. With two first actions in the penalty area, Hoppe was responsible for Schalke starting a little better in this disappointed duel. The use of the ferryman also initially seemed to prove its worth. He once cleared up against Dodi Lukebakio, who lunged at him alone, even in the style of an indisputable number one.
Regardless, a lively round of missed opportunities soon developed on both sides. After half an hour, Mark Uth missed Schalke’s best opportunity by aiming free beyond the left post. In direct response, three Berliners counterattacking against two defending Schalke players could have done a lot more than stumble the ball.
Fans who weren’t present acknowledged the scene with indulgent silence. Had they been allowed to be there, they would have seen their Berliners gradually take command of this game. In minute 36 he arrived as he had to arrive at some point. After a throw-in on the left and a lot of noise in the Schalke penalty area, the ball jumped at the feet of Mattéo Guendouzi, and the Frenchman, on loan from Arsenal, slipped it around the corner of the innocent boatman. 1-0.
Happy launch: Matteo Guendouzi scores 1-0 for Hertha BSC.
(Photo: Annegret Hilse / dpa)
Anyone who expected something like the barking of a rearing Schalke dog after the break was wrong. The Berliners not only expanded their dominance, but also took the lead in the 53rd minute. After the most beautiful play to date through Matheus Cunha and Vladimir Darida, Colombian Jhon Córdoba, who had recovered after a long break, pushed the ball into the net from six meters.
Schalke now seemed to give in to defeat, out of habit. “When we play like this, we are just not competitive,” said Uth, who could not be contradicted. And the forward immediately asked for reinforcements. “Those responsible still have to act in the transfer market,” he said. “We need players who can help us immediately.”
Attempts by Christian Gross to influence the game from the coaches’ bench with the current coaching staff were, in any case, unsuccessful. He brought in Steven Skrzybski, among others, but was injured again within ten minutes. Hertha manager Bruno Labbadia had more luck with the replacement of Krzysztof Piatek. The Pole had just entered the field when he received a great shot from Darida, who was worth watching that night, and made it all clear ten minutes before the end.
Only Hoffenheim can save Tasmania’s record
Throughout the seasons, Schalke has accumulated 30 games in a row without victories. And anyone talking about such figures can hardly be silent on Tasmania. The current league team Berlin-Neukölln is as famous for losing as FC Bayern for winning. Tasmania entered the Bundesliga in 1965 for the relegated Hertha and entered the annals with 31 consecutive games without a win. In Neukölln, the record has long been part of national pride and was long considered immortal as well. Until a team from Gelsenkirchen just stopped winning in early 2020. And suddenly it was early 2021.
Now only TSG Hoffenheim can save Tasmania’s pride with a loss to Schalke next weekend.
