For a moment, the Schalke supporters did not know how to react to the next defeat.
When the 1: 3 against Hamburger SV was sealed at the start of the second division, there were some whistles in the arena.
But then the long-suffering fans of the traditional club that had crashed gave their team a lot of applause after a courageous performance on Friday evening and loud “Schalke, Schalke” interviews.
The blue and white professionals were spared another gauntlet run.
"That was goosebumps atmosphere," said Schalke coach Dimitrios Grammozis. "It's a shame that we couldn't reward ourselves and the fans with at least one point." But even if the Schalke series of defeats continued one class lower, there was a clear change in mood. The fans are in the mood for Schalke again as long as the completely new team fights as passionately as in the first second division game in a little over 30 years.
19,770 spectators had come to see the new Schalke team, which had eight newcomers on the pitch at kick-off.
First and foremost striker Simon Terodde, who brought the Royal Blues against his former club in the seventh minute and triggered a colossal cry of joy in the arena.
"Front runner, front runner", it echoed through the arena afterwards.
"Howling does not help"
But for Schalke to actually be able to play back up there, a lot has to be done. “Starting tomorrow, Rouven Schröder will be on the phone every minute again. It is clear that we still have to do something, ”said Grammozis about the team restructuring with sporting director Rouven Schröder. Especially if Captain Danny Latza should be out for a longer period of time. The former Mainz player provided a lot of momentum and stability in midfield for half an hour before he had to leave the field with a knee injury. "It has been seen that we can't just replace a player like Danny," said Grammozis.
For a long time it looked like Schalke could at least get a point. But then the hosts ran out of breath, the HSV professionals struck cold and gave their new coach Tim Walter a dream start on the Hamburg bank. Robert Glatzel (53rd), Moritz Heyer (86th) and Bakery Jatta (90th) brought about the turning point in the second half and the victory of the North Germans, which they deserved in the end. “I have to pay a big compliment to the team. She increased the intensity again after the break and rewarded herself with three points in the end, ”said Walter happily.
The Schalke professionals, on the other hand, trotted off the lawn with drooping heads despite the encouragement from the fans. “We didn't have to lose this game,” said Marius Bülter. But Grammozis immediately tried to classify the defeat. "We lost to an absolute top team in the second division today and still created a lot of chances," said Grammozis. "Howling doesn't help, we have to keep working," said the Schalke coach.