Schalke 04’s Stunning Downfall: A Tactical Review of the 2020-21 Bundesliga Season
Schalke 04, once a dominant force in German football and a regular presence in European competitions, shocked the Bundesliga with their dramatic collapse in the 2020-21 season. With still four matches remaining, The Royal Blues had already sealed relegation, collecting only 13 points from 30 fixtures and winning just twice. This article dissects the tactical, structural, and off-field factors that led to one of the Bundesliga’s most catastrophic seasons.
The Path to Relegation: How Schalke Lost Their Way
Just two seasons prior, Schalke were in the UEFA Champions League. However, a slide in form saw them finish 14th in that campaign, resulting in the dismissal of Domenico Tedesco and the hiring of David Wagner for the 2019-20 season. Though Wagner started with promise, underlying issues soon surfaced. Early in the 2020-21 season, three heavy defeats—including an 8-0 thrashing by Bayern Munich—spelled the end of Wagner’s tenure. Over the course of the dismal season, Schalke cycled through several managers, none managing to halt the negative spiral. How did a club of such stature descend so quickly? To understand their crisis, it’s crucial to analyze both the team’s on-field tactics and off-field mismanagement.
Squad Construction and Tactical Instability
Schalke’s problems can be traced to years of flawed recruitment. Since finishing second in 2017-18, they opted for signings past their prime or players who hadn’t found their footing elsewhere, while failing to reinforce key positions—especially up front. Crucial players like Daniel Caligiuri and Weston McKennie departed (the former to Augsburg, the latter to Juventus), as did Sebastian Rudy and Breel Embolo a season earlier. The failure to replace defensive stalwart Naldo left the squad devoid of leaders and the necessary quality for top-flight competition.
In terms of tactics, Schalke experimented with multiple systems—including 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2, and 4-4-2—showing a lack of consistency that undermined cohesion. Although the 4-2-3-1 formation was used most frequently, the team’s only two wins came using alternative setups. Regardless of structure, Schalke relied on two defensive midfielders—often Benjamin Stambouli alongside Suat Serdar. Both, theoretically experienced enough to anchor the team, underperformed dramatically.
Lack of Quality and Ineffective Leadership
Among the few Bundesliga-caliber players, Amine Harit provided flashes of quality and led the team in assists and attacking contributions. Most of the team’s forward plays flowed through him, primarily down the left flank (38% of attacks). Matthew Hoppe, stepping up from the youth ranks, became the leading scorer with five goals after debuting in November. Other once-reliable figures, like Salif Sane and Ralf Fahrmann, struggled with injuries, while Bastian Oczipka, once among the league’s top fullbacks, was forced into a primarily defensive role with little opportunity to support attacks.
Despite their efforts to adapt tactics and personnel, managers failed to establish any continuity between the team’s lines. Schalke failed to win a single game when playing 4-2-3-1, highlighting just how unsuited the formation was to the available squad.
Attacking Frailties: Why Schalke Couldn’t Score
Schalke’s attacking woes were evident across all metrics. From 30 league matches, the team managed to score just 18 goals. While their average possession and pass completion were mid-table (12th and 13th, respectively), their shot creation ranked dead last at just nine attempts per game.
Key reasons for Schalke’s lack of threat included:
– Failure to create meaningful chances and progress the ball into dangerous zones
– Spending the most time in their own defensive third compared to all Bundesliga teams
– Completing the fewest crosses per match, making it difficult to create or convert chances in the penalty area
Suat Serdar, once an effective goal-scoring midfielder, was shackled in a defensive role, able only to distribute the ball rather than drive attacks. Additionally, Schalke struggled to reach dangerous areas: they ranked second-highest in reliance on shots from outside the box (after Werder Bremen) and bottom for shots inside the six-yard box. This reflected their inability to advance into strong scoring positions or capitalize on the aerial presence of players like Hoppe.
Amine Harit, while technically gifted and a strong dribbler, too often took on the attacking responsibility alone, leading to a high rate of turnovers without sufficient end product. Though there were promising moments when Harit and Hoppe linked up, these were isolated instances in an otherwise uninspired attacking display.
Defensive Weaknesses: Problems at the Back
Schalke’s troubles weren’t limited to attack. Defensively, they conceded an astonishing 76 goals in 30 matches, leading to a goal difference of -58—by far the league’s worst.
Their main defensive issues included:
– Fewest interceptions per game among teams that spent less time in possession
– Lack of continuity and organization between defensive lines, making it easy for opponents to progress
– Poor team discipline, as reflected in one of the league’s most negative disciplinary records
A notable flaw was the team’s lack of pace, particularly in wide areas. As a result, Schalke were repeatedly exposed on counter-attacks. Without the speed to recover and lacking the organizational stability of a compact defensive block, Schalke’s backline regularly collapsed under pressure. Moreover, pressing was disjointed, with individuals pressing in isolation instead of a systematic, collective effort. This absence of collective pressing made them highly vulnerable throughout matches.
Set-piece defending was another critical failing. Schalke conceded 17 goals from set-pieces, the worst performance in Europe’s top five leagues. Given the aerial abilities of key players like Salif Sane and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, this shortfall pointed squarely at poor coordination and preparation rather than a lack of talent.
Leadership and Management Decisions
There was an opportunity for the right coach to impose structure and discipline on a struggling squad, yet Schalke’s revolving door of managerial appointments prevented stability. Poor hiring and persistent tactical shifts further diminished any hope of a turnaround, cementing their reputation as the Bundesliga’s worst-performing team in history.
Conclusion: Can Schalke Rise Again?
Schalke 04’s disastrous 2020-21 campaign stands as a cautionary tale for historic clubs. Despite once being among Germany’s elite, they suffered an unprecedented fall due to recruitment missteps, tactical confusion, defensive disorganization, and a lack of effective leadership. Their inability to score goals was matched only by a porous defense with little collective understanding.
As the Royal Blues look ahead, rebuilding will require not only fresh talent but a clear vision, tactical stability, and professional management. While this season may be the darkest in the club’s illustrious history, there remains hope that Schalke can return to former glories with the right strategy and leadership in the years to come.
