The S04 U23s have now gone four games without a win. After the 1:4 against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen, the coach gave words of encouragement – also for professional loanee Niklas Tauer.
FC Schalke 04’s U23 team has played a strong season in the Regionalliga West so far. But now coach Jakob Fimpel’s team seems to be running out of steam. The 1:4 (0:3) against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen was the fourth game in a row without a win.
After the game, Schalke’s coach Fimpel had words of encouragement for professional loanee Niklas Tauer and the entire team. “Of course, we had considerable staff absences,” said Fimpel. Not only was veteran Tim Albutat absent due to illness, but also goal scorer Rufat Dadashov and his substitute Niklas Castelle.
Playmaker Andreas Ivan also continued to be absent due to injury. “When you have an English week and play in a three-day rhythm and then have seven absences, that’s a lot of stones you get in your way,” Fimpel said. And that’s what they saw, he said. “What Oberhausen had, we totally lacked: the quality in finishing and the final effectiveness. “
I was more annoyed by the defeat at Kaan-Marienborn, because we slept through the opening phase.
Jacob Fimpel
However, he was not dissatisfied. After the 0:3 in the first half, S04 had shown a good reaction and in fact had further good chances to make it 2:3 after the 1:3 connecting goal by Daniel Kyerewaa. After the 1:4, the game was then decided. “Of course, the result hurts quite a bit,” said Fimpel. “You always have to look at the individual games. I was more annoyed with the defeat at Kaan-Marienborn because we slept through the opening phase. It would be worse if we played badly. But of course it’s annoying because we invested a lot again.”
But there was also positive news: Professional newcomer Tauer played his first game in the S04 jersey after tearing his muscle fibre. “He was totally committed and had good moments with and against the ball. It’s also not always so easy for the boys. You don’t know the opponent, you don’t know the league and then it rings three times and you don’t know why,” Fimpel found uplifting words for the six-man on loan from Mainz.
“I thought he kept his head totally up even in the second half and had a good charisma.” He is also likely to be used initially in the U23s in the coming weeks.
