Tobias Mohr was long considered a transfer flop at FC Schalke 04. Under Karel Geraerts, the left-footed player is a regular on the left side.
No, the training of FC Schalke 04 did not end well for Tobias Mohr on Tuesday morning. A penalty shootout had to decide the training game and Mohr’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Michael Langer – even defeats in training can be bitter. But Mohr, the 28-year-old left-footer, has developed. After a year and a half at Schalke, he is now recovering quickly from setbacks – and is therefore also set to play when Hamburger SV comes to Gelsenkirchen on Saturday (8:30 p.m./Sport 1).
Mohr joined the club from second division side 1. FC Heidenheim for €1.1 million after they were promoted to the Bundesliga, and developed into a top scorer there in the 2022/23 season (eight goals, seven assists). But none of that could be seen at Schalke. Mohr quickly became a also-ran, only starting eight times, making just 18 appearances (no goals, three assists), often sitting on the bench during the second half of the season under coach Thomas Reis.
This season, he started the opening game in Hamburg (3-5), but not after that – he was left out again under Reis. In the 4-3 win over 1. FC Magdeburg, he was substituted at 0-2 in the 38th minute, walked to the bench deeply dejected, pulled his jersey over his head. Mohr, the permanent flop?
Mohr feels “great trust” from Geraerts
It was only the change of coach from Reis to Karel Geraerts that brought him back. “I get a lot of trust from the coach, a player like me needs that. I felt that from day one. Accordingly, I was able to give the coach something in return,” said Mohr about Geraerts, adding: ”The self-confidence helps me to play to my strengths on the court. It shows that the coach is watching who gives their all in training.” A family event also gave him fresh momentum: in November he became a father – his little son is called Mats. Under Geraerts, he played four games in a row (two assists), defending his place in the starting lineup on the left side of midfield, even in the preparation.
Mohr says the pre-season went exceptionally well. “We got a very, very good feeling in the test matches, even though we didn’t win all of them. It was fun on and off the pitch, whether with or against the ball. Something emerged during the training camp – harmony, a little more understanding for each other,” he said. The three-week preparation period has so far gone without a hitch, with no incomings or outgoings, injuries or arguments. But Mohr is also aware that “no matter how well you prepare, if we can’t bring it on the pitch in the competition, it will all be for nothing.”
But even if the start is successful, is Schalke still aiming for the top? “Promotion is not our top priority as a team. We want to play well in the second half of the season and get away from the bottom as quickly as possible. Every win helps to create a certain atmosphere in the stadium and in the club,” said Mohr, adding: ‘If it doesn’t work out, you shouldn’t bury your head in the sand.’
Schalke: Mohr speaks openly about Fürth mistake
Nobody knows this better than he does. In the 2-2 draw against Greuther Fürth just before Christmas, he made the decisive mistake before the equalizer. “The night after a mistake like that always sucks, but if I kept dwelling on it, my self-confidence would be gone. Then I might as well quit soccer,” he said. That’s the new Tobias Mohr: full of self-confidence.