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Fritz Schmid is happy with Christian Gross’s new commitment as coach at Schalke 04.
Schmid worked in Asia, Africa and most recently as a national coach in New Zealand, was Gross’s assistant at FC Basel for seven years, and previously was also the 66-year-old’s assistant coach at Tottenham Hotspur and Grasshopper Club Zurich.
“It is not the toughness that makes him stand out, but the fact that he demands a lot from himself and his surroundings. If he achieves that, then they take him to Schalke. I trust him with the way he works one hundred percent.” , He says. Schmid in conversation with SPORT1. “He’s a great personality, that will help Schalke.” (SERVICE: Bundesliga table)
Schmidt sees “disrespect”
Schmid cannot understand that Gross has worked for the Saudi Arabian football club al-Ahli and the Egyptian club Zamalek SC in recent years and that for many experts he only let his career end there.
“I would like to correct this image of non-European football events around the world. If you are not active in Europe, they often judge you with some disrespect and smile at you,” says Schmid. Soccer is also played there, and the same qualities are required to succeed with teams.
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Gross has shown that he can adapt to different cultural situations. “That’s one of his absolute strengths,” says his longtime assistant. “Christian is a professional from head to toe, very determined and puts everything under the overall goal of success.”
Schmid adds: “This professional approach should be a prerequisite, but it should be required in daily work, as Christian is a role model.”
Kreuzer praises Gross
Oliver Kreuzer also praises Gross. “As I know Christian, he has always kept up-to-date on German football away from Europe over the last few years. Schalke is really dead, but if anyone can do it then him. His great strength is bringing the dressing room and the team together” he says the 55 year old man SPORT1. (SERVICE: Bundesliga schedule)
Kreuzer switched from FC Bayern to FC Basel in 1997, where he played with Gross from 1999 to 2002, after which he worked as a team manager at the traditional Swiss club until 2005.
The great advantage of the new Schalke coach? “Christian is fluent in five or six languages. The team meetings back then in Basel were extraordinary. He speaks to each player in his own language, and that is very important for Schalke,” explains Kreuzer.
“When he stands in front of the troops, there is 100 percent authority, conviction and respect. Christian will bring the Schalke team through a door again.”
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Gross leads Stuttgart in the Europa League
Gross was the only Bundesliga club in his career to coach VfB Stuttgart in the 2009/2010 season. He took over the Suevi on December 6, 2009 in 15th place and led the team to sixth place until the end of the season, which meant that the Stuttgart-based team qualified for the Europa League.
Gross had the best point average of all Bundesliga coaches this season at 2.26 points per game. After a disappointing start to the new round, six losses in seven games and falling to the bottom of the table, he was fired.
Schalke threatens negative Tasman record
But Schmid highlights the positives of this time. “Christian also led the team from behind at VfB Stuttgart. And there was a development to be seen, that’s the big goal at Schalke.”
He explains: “I’ve been a Schalke fan for a while now and I wish Christian the best of success. They say a lot of momentum in Switzerland.”
Gross will need a good hand to save the Royal Blues. The club managed just one Bundesliga win in all of 2020: in January, in a 2-0 home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Royal Blues are just two games short of setting Tasmania Berlin’s negative record (31 Bundesliga games without a win).
Gross won his second Bundesliga game with VfB. It would just avoid setting Tasmania’s record at Schalke.
