At first it seemed like a desperate search for an alibi for unsuccessful work.
Several professionals from FC Schalke 04 presented to sports director Jochen Schneider on Tuesday to demand that head coach Christian Gross be replaced.
What could now make the situation particularly dangerous for the Swiss is the fact that the players who have requested his replacement are leading players. The club has long been in a chaotic situation, which one club employee describes as follows: "At the moment everyone is busy with himself."