What’s going on between Schalke coach Karel Geraerts and FC Brugge? On Thursday, the Belgian commented on the speculation.
To describe the current situation at FC Schalke 04, Karel Geraerts used an image from boxing. His team is getting a lot of uppercuts from all sides, the coach said at the press conference ahead of the home game against Karlsruher SC on Sunday (1.30pm/Sky).
He had already warned his players at the start of the international break and after the 5-2 defeat at Hertha BSC: “We have to stick together and decide for ourselves what goes into the dressing room and what doesn’t. If we take the negative things into the dressing room, we’ll be in trouble. If we let the negative things into the dressing room, we’ll get into trouble.”
And according to the Belgian coach, his team has managed to block out the loud noises. “I like what I’ve seen in training this week. The team had a lot of energy, didn’t let the rumors get to them and are focused and ready for the difficult task on Sunday.”
Whether they will succeed remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the blows – to use Geraerts’ metaphor – in the past two weeks have mainly come from within the team. Above all, it was several personnel decisions that led to a turbulent international break at Berger Feld. Two points, however, concern Geraerts himself: the suspension of Timo Baumgartl, to which the 42-year-old wanted to devote “no more energy” a week later. And, above all, the rumors about his future
Before Schalke, I spent four years in the Belgian coaching world and did a very good job there. Bruges is currently looking for a coach and it’s normal for me that they are also thinking about my name.
Karel Geraerts
According to the Belgian media, FC Brugge are showing concrete interest in Geraerts and want to sign him in the summer. According to the WAZ, both sides have already exchanged information. Geraerts commented on the speculation on Thursday. “Before Schalke, I spent four years in the Belgian coaching world and did a very good job there. Bruges are currently looking for a coach and it is normal for me that they are also considering my name,” said the ex-professional, who experienced his best times as a player at Bruges and still has close ties to the current fourth-placed team in the Belgian league.
At the same time, Geraerts credibly assured that he is “fully focused on Schalke” and that he was already being traded in Bruges around a year ago when he was still on the touchline at Union Saint-Gilloise. However, the coach avoided making a clear commitment to fulfill his final year of his contract at Schalke (runs until 2025).
It is obvious that there are good arguments for a move to the club close to his heart – as well as for a kind of new start at Schalke next summer. Provided, of course, that the club manages to stay in the league and those responsible around sports director Marc Wilmots want to keep Geraerts.
The former international is certainly flattered by the interest from Bruges. And it puts him in a comfortable position. With this option up his sleeve, he would not have to worry about leaving Schalke. Not in the summer, and not before, should the sporting situation come to a head, perhaps with a defeat against KSC. Then, in the worst case scenario, the Royal Blues could slip into a direct relegation spot.
In this scenario, sporting director Wilmots, who recently backed Geraerts, would certainly reconsider whether it would not be sensible and feasible to provide a boost on the coaching bench in the final spurt of the season to counter the impending drop into the 3rd division. The coach himself is not considering ending his tenure prematurely. “I’m confident for the game on Sunday,” he emphasized in his usual combative manner. “And I’m not afraid of what will happen after the game – regardless of the result. “