In their Cup exit against RB Leipzig, Schalke’s U19 team put up a long fight. After the match, Schalke’s U19 coach Norbert Elgert also spoke about the imbalance in resources and the new format of the competition.

FC Schalke 04’s U19 team put up a strong fight against RB Leipzig in the first round of the DFB Cup, losing 2-4 (1-3). Ultimately, however, coach Norbert Elgert’s team was eliminated.

With the score at 2-3 shortly before the end, the 68-year-old’s team came close again after trailing 0-3 at one point, but the 2-4 final score ended all their hopes. In the second half, the Royal Blues’ U19s even had the upper hand against RB and could have turned the game around with a bit more luck and efficiency.

“Still, we’re not satisfied,” Elgert said after the game. He was, however, very pleased with his team’s performance in the second half. “But on the other hand, they brought in a player they signed from Croatia for three million euros (Niko Tomasevic, ed.). That’s a whole different category, a whole different world,” explained Schalke’s successful coach. Din Klapija was also signed last summer from NK Kustosija Zagreb for one million euros. “Two or three of them could probably start right away in our first team. But we’re focusing on what we have. And that wasn’t so bad either.”

One thing is clear: The Knappenschmiede system is still working, but with every year in the second division, it gets harder, and the gap keeps widening. “Of course, you have to say that. It’s the first division versus the second division. And financially, it’s not just the first division—it’s way ahead of the first division. With all due respect: They can do that—and I don’t mean that negatively, nor is it an excuse—but the young player who came on cost three million euros. And then there was another one on the field who cost a million euros,” Elgert noted, referring to the cup opponent’s roster. “That’s practically a second-division squad. And our guys did an excellent job against them—except for a long stretch in the first half.”

Elgert also criticized the new 64-team format. “One thing is clear: one of the competitions is over. But this new format with the unbelievable number of teams—many of whom, with all due respect, essentially had a bye—and then having two such teams play against each other right away, that’s just unfortunate.”