Crisis talk as Bayern meet Schalke
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Article summary
German giants FC Bayern München go into this weekend's Bundesliga meeting against form side FC Schalke 04 teetering on the brink of a crisis.
Article body
FC Bayern München host FC Schalke 04 on Sunday in the Bundesliga's headline match of the weekend, a game that two of Germany’s biggest clubs go into with contrasting outlooks – Schalke as the form side and Bayern teetering on the edge of a crisis.
All fine
Just two weeks ago, everything was rosy in the garden of Bayern. Enjoying a nine-point lead in the league and in a strong position in the UEFA Champions League, there was discussion about whether this Bayern team were the strongest since the side that became European Champions in 2001. "We are enjoying the current team quite a lot," general manager Uli Hoeneß said at the end of February.
Two defeats
Fast forward a fortnight and after suffering their first home defeat in their new Fußball Arena München stadium – 2-1 at the hands of Hamburger SV - and coming out on the wrong end of a 4-1 rout against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League, there is now talk of a crisis at the Germany's most famous club. "That was a debacle," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after the defeat in Italy. "The team has to show that it is willing to make amends when we play [VfL] Wolfsburg and Schalke".
Positive reaction?
Yet while Bayern could only manage a goalless draw at Wolfsburg, coach Felix Magath and members of the board praised what was generally perceived as another under-par performance. "We have seen a positive reaction after the two defeats," said Magath, while there was a more realistic view from Rummenigge, who added: "It is clear that we are due the criticism we have received and we have to face it. We now have to win against Schalke." Defeat to the UEFA Cup hopefuls could see Bayern's Bundesliga lead reduced to just three points and the title race re-opened.
Slomka unbeaten
Bayern will meet a team travelling to the Bavarian capital in a rich vein of form. Schalke have yet to lose a single match since new coach Mirko Slomka took over in January, winning six out of eight games. Previous coach, Ralf Rangnick's assistant, Slomka remains cautious about Schalke's hopes of re-opening the championship race, stating that "we are not chasing Bayern. We have to keep our feet on the ground." The visitors will hope to take advantage of the leaders' vulnerability, however, with Magath admitting: "The defeats are still on our minds".
