Karel Geraerts has given an interview for the first time since his sacking from Schalke. “I’ve experienced more in a year at Schalke than in my entire career,” he explains.
It has been quiet around Karel Geraerts lately. Two months have passed since the Belgian coach had to leave FC Schalke 04. The 42-year-old processed his release on family vacation in Morocco and Vietnam. Now, for the first time, Geraerts has publicly commented on his almost one-year tenure with the second division soccer club, making statements that could well be interpreted as kicking.
“I have experienced more in a year at Schalke than in my entire career,” Geraerts told the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. He said there are many tendencies at Schalke. ”Everyone has their own agenda and does their own thing.”
“Disclosures were the order of the day,” Geraerts reports. ‘At some point, I had a conversation with someone from the management. The conversation was over, we parted ways and not even a quarter of an hour later, the entire content was online.’
Geraerts directs his accusations primarily at squad planner Ben Manga, who came to Gelsenkirchen in the summer. Geraerts considers the phase after the hiring of Marc Wilmots as sporting director at the beginning of the year to be his “best time” at Schalke. “We won eight of our twelve games. And then Manga came.”
The differences between Manga and Geraerts became apparent a few weeks before the coach’s departure. In a media round shortly after the start of the season, the manager attracted attention when he publicly questioned Geraerts’ personnel decisions.
Specifically, it was about the role of the young newcomers Martin Wasinski and Felipe Sanchez. Manga had signed the two defenders in the summer, but Geraerts did not give them enough playing time, according to Manga. Manga’s statements caused a stir in the sports world – Geraerts even called it a “bombshell”. After this interview, the place was in flames and I knew nothing about it.
After this interview, the place was in flames and I knew nothing about it.
Karel Geraerts
The suspensions of Timo Baumgartl and Dominick Drexler also caused constant background noise during Geraerts’ time in the Ruhr area. Neither of them have been allowed to train with the professional team since spring. “Baumgartl was a very bad influence on the group for me,” Geraerts explained in retrospect. ‘I’ve been in locker rooms long enough to know when someone is spreading negativity.’
In Drexler’s case, throwing a chocolate shake in the dressing room after the 1-1 draw at Hannover 96 last season led to his dismissal. According to Geraerts, however, it was “not just that chocolate milk”. The former midfielder did not go into further detail. Geraerts admitted that he also suspended Thomas Ouwejan in the early days of his time at Schalke, and that was a mistake.
Meanwhile, Geraerts is ready for a new challenge. He was recently linked to Belgian first division club OH Leuven. His contract with S04 runs until the end of this season. After four points from the first six games of the season, Geraerts and sporting director Wilmots were dismissed.
3:5 defeat against Darmstadt costs Geraerts his Schalke job
The deciding factor was ultimately the 3-5 home defeat against Darmstadt 98, in which Schalke squandered a 3-0 lead. After this game, which Geraerts described in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws as the “most insane match” of his life, it was already clear to him that he no longer had a future at the club. The pressure since the manga interview had been too high for that.
The way his release was handled was rather unpleasant, said Geraerts, who in any case considers the decision of those in charge to be “unjustified”. After a solid second half of the season, Schalke started the new season weakly. Nevertheless, he felt he could stabilize Schalke. “Despite a lack of resources, all the tools were available. The team grew together, but not everyone in the club was pulling in the same direction. It is then impossible for a coach and a club to be successful.”