Schalke 04 conceded their fourth defeat in a row in a 0:3 (0:2) against TSG Hoffenheim. Things are getting tight for coach Frank Kramer.
Frank Kramer gave his players a high five before the Schalke 04 coach disappeared into the dressing room. It could have been a permanent departure from the Bundesliga club. After the sobering 0:3 (0:2) against TSG Hoffenheim at the start of the tenth matchday, Kramer has to fear for his post more than ever.
“That’s not my issue. I’m not the right person to talk to. I give everything every day, I will continue to do that,” said Kramer DAZN. Sports director Rouven Schröder left the coach’s future open: “Frank Kramer is our coach, but we will still analyze the game. It’s important that you come to your senses and discuss things.”
Schröder emphasized that “nothing” was certain and described Kramer as a “fighter” who always gives “everything” for the club.
After the fourth defeat in a row, Schalke will definitely fall into a direct relegation zone on Saturday. After the final whistle, the fans demanded that Kramer be thrown out. “It hurts. So soon after the game everyone is busy with themselves. It was dead quiet,” said striker Simon Terodde DAZN.
Robert Skov (11./foulelfmeter after video evidence) put Hoffenheim in the lead early on, Schalke’s central defender Leo Greiml hit Christoph Baumgartner on the shin. Munas Dabbur (45′ + 2′) increased with a deliberate flick before Skov (59′) made everything clear with his second VAR goal after Thomas Ouwejan’s handball. Guest coach Andre Breitenreiter celebrated a successful return to his old place of work, with TSG staying in third place. Both teams will meet again in the DFB Cup in Sinsheim on Tuesday.
“We need a different attitude, we want to show a different face and we want to score,” Kramer had demanded – and after the embarrassing performance at Bayer Leverkusen (0: 4) announced a system change to a back three. Said? Not done. Against Hoffenheim, Kramer again relied on a back four in defence, in which Ouwejan replaced Tobias Mohr on the left.
Schalke 04 misses several great opportunities
TSG got off to a stormy start. Double corner after less than 60 seconds, double chance in the seventh minute – and then the doorbell rang at Schalke. After Greiml’s foul and the intervention of the Kölner Kellers, Skov hammered the ball into the corner.
Offensively, there had been a problem at Hoffenheim, which is why Breitenreiter had work done on the precision of the goal. This time, the Kraichgauer rewarded themselves early, although TSG record scorer Andrej Kramaric was out due to a hit to the ankle and was replaced by Georginio Rutter.
If the Kramer-Elf fell apart after conceding the first goal in Leverkusen, this time they showed the right reaction. Schalke tried hard and put the guest under pressure early on. TSG had the best chance again – but Rutter (23′) shot over the goal after a counterattack.
But Schalke stayed tuned. First Terodde missed (25′), then in the 30th minute the audience had the goal scream on their lips: A shot from 18 meters from starting XI debutant Florent Mollet smacked the right post, Ouwejan’s follow-up shot was just about cleared by goalkeeper Oliver Baumann the feet.
TSG Hoffenheim gets two VAR penalties
The Kramer team earned the possible equaliser, but Hoffenheim scored again. First, Schalke keeper Alexander Schwolow cleared the shot from the lively Baumgartner (41st) in the follow-up, but Dabbur increased shortly before the half-time whistle.
After the break, the table-16 remained. from Westphalia – and had bad luck again. First Marius Bülter (56th) failed with a header on the post, then Badstübner pointed to the point again after VAR. Skov morphs again.
Schalke 04 – TSG Hoffenheim: The votes
Frank Kramer (Schalke 04 coach): “We put a lot of energy into it from the start. It’s a blow when you get a penalty against you. The team want to force luck, they threw it all in.”
Andre Breitenreiter (TSG Hoffenheim coach): “We scored the goals at the right time. We had a passive phase in the first half and also some happy moments. In the second half we played confidently.”
