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Schalke's coach Manuel Baum
Photo:
Guido Kirchner / dpa
Coach Manuel Baum knew what he was getting into when he took office at FC Schalke at the end of September.
The Bundesliga team won their last competitive game in February (3-2 against Hertha BSC in the cup), more than a relegation battle is currently not possible with this team.
And yet it sounded like a mockery when Baum was asked before the DFB Cup match against regional division Schweinfurt (4.30 p.m., live ticker SPIEGEL.de; TV: Sky) whether his team was even a favorite.
"We have underlined how important this game is for us," said Baum in discussions with his players, whom he had not given a day off at the weekend after the 1-1 draw against VfB Stuttgart last Friday.
The deficits in the royal blues are too big.
"We approach it like a Bundesliga game," said Baum about the game preparation, which was disrupted again on Monday evening.
An unnamed professional tested positive for the corona virus, is now in quarantine and cannot play against Schweinfurt.
For Baum, the supposedly compulsory task is tricky for other reasons as well.
On the one hand, he absolutely has to win the game, on the other hand, it is important to conserve strength for the even more important Bundesliga game of the table penultimate on Saturday at the bottom of the table FSV Mainz 05. The self-confidence is low, a defeat against a fourth division would not be helpful.
On the other hand, a game against an individually clearly inferior opponent also offers the chance to work on the shortcomings.
Baum has now managed to improve the defensive after the defeats against Bayern (0: 8) and Leipzig (0: 4).
In the offensive, in the opening of the game and in creating chances to score, the Schalke players still have a hard time.
The game was preceded by a long legal battle.
In September, Türkgücü Munich obtained an injunction against the first round game between Schweinfurt and Schalke a few days before the scheduled game.
The Bavarian Football Association had decided to let Munich move up to the third division after the end of the season and in return to reward promotion competitor Schweinfurt with the cup.
Last week, the association's arbitration tribunal confirmed this decision.
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krä / dpa
