Schalke failed to find the right formula once again with another season on disappointment that ended with a fifth place finish, higher than their performances probably warranted. There was optimism in Gelsenkirchen at the start of the season as new coach Andre Breitenreiter took his place at the helm of the club. The new man needed some time to sort out his playing staff after the mess Roberto di Matteo had left the club in last season but his approach of hard work and honest football seemed to pay dividends early on in the season with some good results. But Schalke’s fans did not really warm to the new man in charge as the club would sometimes go on extended runs of playing incredibly dull football and just grinding out a few results. Perhaps more importantly they were unable to consistently beat sides who were expected to qualify for the Champions League thus putting Schalke at a disadvantage in that race. Their sixth place at Christmas meant that Breitenreiter was trusted to push his side on in the second half of the season but they never really held a top four place, only briefly flirting with it at the end of some rounds. It was the eventual failure to qualify for the Champions League that probably put the final nail in the coffin for Breitenreiter who was relieved of his duties at the conclusion of the season. Alongside their failing league campaign the club found little solace in the cup competitions with defeats earlier than hoped in both the Europa League and DFB Cup. Overall the team performed below expectations in all aspects of their football this year and the new manager will once again take over from a side low on morale. Few players managed to impress throughout the year but the focus in younger players that Breitenreiter had was probably the only real positive to come out of the season. Max Meyer, Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sane were the three brightest of the Schalke squad with the latter marginally the best of those in what proved to be his break-out season. Next year the senior members of the squad will have to step up if the club are to move forward. The man to try and take them to the next level is likely to be Augsburg coach Michael Weinzierl who is a rising star of German coaching, but many have tried before him and few have succeeded long term at Schalke.
