Schalke 04 thrilled: New coaches Muslic and Karius find a path to success!

Schalke 04 thrilled: New coaches Muslic and Karius find a path to success!

FC Schalke 04 got off to a brilliant start to the season in the 2nd Bundesliga. After eight games, the Royal Blues are in second place in the table with 18 points - just one point behind leaders Elversberg. The team plays with a clear game idea and is much more consistent than in previous years, when they had to struggle with placings like 10th and 14th in the second division after being relegated from the Bundesliga. The new coach Miron Muslic, who has been in office since May 2023, has won the trust of the fans and the team with his modern, direct style of play. Absolut Fussball reports that Muslic was able to set the right tone, including successes against Hertha Berlin, Bochum and Bielefeld.

Let's turn to one of the minds behind the success: goalkeeper Loris Karius. The 30-year-old plays a crucial role - in his first eight league games he only conceded five goals and kept three clean sheets. Karius, who joined Schalke four months ago after a difficult phase in which he had hardly played since September 2020, has stabilized again. Muslic speaks positively about the keeper and emphasizes the trust that was placed in him. With his previous experience from VfB Stuttgart's youth team and his stints at Manchester City, Mainz 05 and Liverpool FC, Karius not only brings footballing talent, but also mental strength. After a difficult Champions League final in 2018, he now seems to be getting back to his old strength.

Defensive stability and new additions

FC Schalke's defense has also improved this year. With new players like Nikola Katić, Hasan Kuruçay and Timo Becker, the team has a strengthened defensive formation. In this context, it is noteworthy that Schalke have so far played four games without conceding a goal and have won the highest number of aerial duels in the league, just behind Kaiserslautern. This physical presence seems to suit the team well and increases the chances of a return to the Bundesliga.

Fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the club appears to have stabilized and is in a position to take the necessary steps to put the past behind them. Bundesliga.com highlights that Schalke does not have any significant competitors like Hamburg or Cologne in the 2nd league this season, which further favors the promotion prospects.

On the way up

With a solid performance and trust in the new coach, Schalke turned things around. After difficult years in which the club struggled with its placement in the 2nd Bundesliga, the chance is now within reach to finally get promoted back to the first division. Frank Baumann, the experienced man in the background, supports the club with smart decisions. The support of over 200,000 members strengthens the foundation on which the association stands. It is thanks to their passionate following that Schalke is one of the best-supported clubs in Germany.

The outlook for the next games is entirely positive, because the players seem motivated and the team has the necessary self-confidence to go into the upcoming matches with a breath of fresh air. It could be an exciting season for Schalke 04 - the return to the Bundesliga seems within reach.

Stay tuned for more information on Schalke 04 and their progress in the league. For detailed team statistics, we recommend taking a look at Kicker.