The Revierderby between FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund on Saturday (6:30 p.m.) will be a crisis summit. Especially for the Royal Blues, the relegation battle is all about survival. BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke renews his good wishes for the arch rival with one caveat.
18th place in the table, with nine points after 21 matchdays and just as many points behind the rescue bank: The situation at FC Schalke 04 seems hopeless. If a real football miracle does not happen in the coming weeks and months, the Revierklub will have to go bitterly into the 2nd Bundesliga at the end of the season.
The always explosive duel with BVB could be a turning point. Schalke’s coach Christian Gross therefore wants to focus solely on this game and not on the increasingly looming horror scenario of relegation. “For us it is about the here and now, not about a possible constellation in the future. We want to win the derby. Only that is in our heads,” said the Swiss to “Sport Bild”.
The record of the alleged savior since he took office at Schalke shortly after Christmas is, however, lousy: In eight league games under Gross’ direction, the miners managed only one victory. On the other hand, there were six defeats, so that Schalke’s starting position in the relegation battle has deteriorated further.
BVB: Watzke and Kehl hope for more derbies
But BVB is not without worries in the game in the once again empty Gelsenkirchen arena. With sixth place in the table, the black and yellow lag far behind their own great claims this season. The competitors in the fight for the Champions League qualification have now lost six points.
Nevertheless, the situation at Schalke also plays a role in Dortmund before the direct duel. “I keep my fingers crossed for Schalke 04 that the club will stay in the Bundesliga and collect the points it needs – except on Saturday,” said managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke. The derby is “always a game of special importance” for BVB. For the league, too, it would “not be nice if a club with a long tradition disappears after HSV, which has been missing for three years”, said the BVB boss.
Licensed player manager Sebastian Kehl took the same line: “If we had to forego the explosiveness, emotions and rivalry in this game over the long term, it would be a shame not only for us, but for all of Germany.”
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