When FC Schalke 04 meet VfL Bochum on Saturday (18.30/Sky), Schalke’s sports director Peter Knäbel expects a football festival.

“We get to host the first district duel since our relegation. A derby in front of a full house is always a milestone in a season. These are magical moments in which you can grow,” said the 55-year-old Knäbel in an interview with Funke Sport.

In sporting terms, the derby is a crisis duel – both teams are still winless, VfL have not even picked up a point. Knäbel is not thinking about a possible Schalke defeat. “I don’t waste energy in crisis mode scenarios,” Knäbel said. About the controversial coach Frank Kramer, Knäbel said, “We made our selection with conviction, and that conviction has not changed. That there are always different voices in the public is clear, that’s part of the business. We make ourselves free of that.”

However, should Schalke fail to achieve their goal of staying in the relegation zone, they are well prepared for a season in the 2nd Bundesliga, Knäbel said: “We have a good basis for both cases thanks to the contracts we have signed – that means that next season we could either realise the goal of staying in the first division or the goal of re-promotion in the second division with selective reinforcements.”

Due to many loan deals and expiring contracts, no matter which league Schalke play in next season, there will be another rebuild in the summer of 2023. “The contract stock brings the necessity for whatever case, but not on the scale we have experienced in the past two years.” In the event of relegation, the salary problem is also not as high, he said. “We have learnt the necessary lessons from the last relegation. The players’ contracts have second division salaries. “