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Huub Stevens applauded with satisfaction: The Coach of the Century ended his interlude as temporary coach at Schalke 04 with a sense of accomplishment. The “Royal Blues”, winless in 29 league matches, defeated regional league team SSV Ulm 3-1 (1-0) in the second round of the DFB Cup.
With his first goal since the Schalke Bundesliga’s last win on January 17, Suat Serdar took the lead (27) for the Gelsenkirchen side. Benito Raman made the decision with a double (51 and 63). For Ulm, Johannes Reichert (82nd) found himself on the sidelines after his own penalty.
“We spent a lap, we are happy with that,” Stevens said into the Sportschau microphone, “I hope the guys regain confidence.”
Ulm coach Holger Bachthaler said into the ARD microphone: “In the first half we were the team that determined the game. We tried everything until the 94th minute so I can only congratulate the team.”
Stevens on the sidelines for the last time?
For the 316th and perhaps the last time, Stevens was on the sidelines of his club of hearts. “I didn’t have much time,” he said, adding with a wink: “It’s difficult for an old coach to throw players off the court.” The 67-year-old only took over Schalke for the fourth time on Friday (December 18, 2020) after Manuel Baum was sent off.
Five changes
Compared to 0: 1 against Arminia Bielefeld, the Dutchman had shifted to five positions. Among other things, complete central defense with Salif Sane and Ozan Kabak was missing, and ailing captain Omar Mascarell was just a spectator. In midfield, Amine Harit should again pull the strings as “Zehner”. As in the first round at 4: 1 against regional division Schweinfurt 05, the restless Schalke side struggled with the bottom three-class club during the half.
The brave Ulmer had the first chance to score through Nicolas Jann (23), but Serdar scored the first goal with a long-range shot, out of nowhere. Only after the break did Stevens’ team become more dominant. The payoff: After a shot from Harit, which Ulm goalkeeper Maximilian Reule rejected, Raman dusted off to make it 2-0.
Who will be the new coach of Schalke?
That is why ailing sports director Jochen Schneider has to find reinforcement for the attack in the transfer period in January for the highly indebted traditional club. Who, as Stevens’ successor, will take on the relegation mission after the brief winter break, should be announced as soon as possible. “If the new one needs some advice, he can give me a call,” Stevens said, when asked about his successor, “that’s right!”
In addition to veteran Friedhelm Funkel (67), the two ex-Stuttgarters Christian Gross (66) and Alexander Zorniger (53), whom Schneider knows from their time at VfB, are candidates. Gross recently trained in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Zorniger, former Danish champion Brondby IF.
In any case, the new coach will have to look after Schalke in the next league match on January 2, 21 (6.30 pm, live on sportschau.de) when “Royal Blue” will compete for Hertha BSC.
Those: sportschau.de
