Schalke tears and disappointment: "Licking wounds"

Leipzig's Lukas Klostermann (l) and Schalke's Marius Bülter in a duel. © Jan Woitas/dpa

You can't get more fight than that. In the meantime, Schalke is catching up with a 0-2 deficit in Leipzig - and yet they are left empty-handed. The Revierclub is relegated.

Leipzig - Almost motionless, disappointed and dejected, Schalke stood in front of their fans - and were loudly celebrated in these bitter minutes of direct relegation. "I can't blame my team," said visibly dejected coach Thomas Reis. "The way we came back, the mentality, with the belief that we might still achieve the impossible - that's what I saw." And yet it was not enough.

Saturday's 2-4 (1-2) defeat at cup finalists RB Leipzig sealed the Royal Blues' fifth relegation from the Bundesliga. "It's a strange feeling, we're relegated and celebrated in front of the fans," said Schalke idol Gerald Asamoah. Reis justified the mood with the "malocher qualities" of his players and spoke of the "Champions League level" among the fans. Tears flowed in the TV interviews of the players.

Despite falling behind early after goals from Konrad Laimer (10th minute) and Christopher Nkunku (19th), the visitors showed strength and courage, catching up through Marcin Kaminski (28th) and Willi Orban's own goal (49th). But substitute Yussuf Poulsen (82') and again Nkunku (90'+4) dashed all hopes.

"The relegation was not sealed today, now we have to lick wounds and come out stronger," Reis said. After a completely messed up first half of the season, in which Schalke were already at the bottom of the table, the coach, who has been in office since the end of October 2022, had brought back hope of staying in the league in the first place. "What we did in the second half of the season was phenomenal. We wanted to reward ourselves again today," said Danny Latza. He feels pure frustration.

Sporting director Peter Knäbel was "incredibly proud" of players and fans. "I will say thank you to a lot of people who worked in the dressing room, who represented the club worthily on the pitch," he said.

Staying in the league, Knäbel said, would have been "Variant A". "But in variant B, we already have a team from the contract portfolio that is absolutely impressive. We will try to optimize them further." First, however, "calm must return". It must be allowed to mourn. "I can't go straight to business as usual. But then it's time to shake ourselves up and look forward constructively," said the sporting director.

Leipzig coach Marco Rose praised the visitors and Reis, who had once been his bench neighbour in the coaching course, in the highest tones. "I wish Reisi and Schalke all the best for coming back, Schalke belongs in the Bundesliga. They played an unbelievable second half of the season, did a great job. But it was clear that we would not give gifts." dpa