FC Schalke face the all-important basement duel against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday (18:30). This is the situation for coach Thomas Reis’ team.

FC Schalke’s last four games in a row in the Bundesliga were 0-0. On Saturday (18:30) against VfB Stuttgart, coach Thomas Reis’ team must score again and win.

Otherwise it will become increasingly difficult to escape relegation. The coach knows this too, but he has new personnel problems to overcome before the basement duel against the Swabians, who recently beat 1. FC Köln.

At the pre-match press conference, Reis, who will remain S04 coach even in the event of relegation, stressed. “I am optimistic, we have not lost four times. Now we have two games ahead of us that are very important. There we have the chance to be back in the race.”

Which means the team is under pressure, they have to deliver now. Reis has no problem with that at all, as he explains: “It’s nice that we’ve built up pressure again. Pressure helps to be awake and to deliver good performances. Anyone who can’t handle it is out of place here. We have a home game, we know that Stuttgart is a good team with a lot of pace. We have to be awake. “

With regard to his personnel, Reis will have to make some major changes, especially defensively. The four-man defence, which has been so stable in recent times, will have to be completely reshuffled on the flanks. Jere Uronen, Cedric Brunner and Thomas Ouwejan are out.

Reis: “The positions at full-back will be completely reorganised. There are guys coming in who are pushing their way into the team. Maybe we will also change the basic order.”

Which would mean that a three-man backline is a thought, Reis did not want to commit himself. But not only defensively, also on the offensive outside positions the coach cannot draw from the full range. Tim Skarke and Soichiro Kozuki will not be available either. In addition to the absences, Sepp van den Berg, Danny Latza, Justin Heekeren and Sebastian Polter are also long-term injured.

On the positive side, Tom Krauß, Alex Kral and Tobias Mohr are fit again and available to Reis. Especially Kraus and Kral in the centre are of enormous importance against an opponent who has gained new self-confidence. Reis on the opponent: “VfB will come to us with a broad chest. Stuttgart have a very good switching game, a very good tempo. “