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Bundesliga Focus - Schalke’s crosshairs aimed at Bayern
Schalke 04’s resurgence this season has jogged the memories of football fans around Germany that the club from Gelsenkirchen are one of the countries most illustrious.
With seven league titles to their name, Felix Magath’s side hope to claim the league for the first time since 1958, and Schalke, looking like strong contenders to win Germany’s most coveted prize, have their cross hairs aimed at the mighty Bayern Munich. Felix Magath seems intent on carrying on his vindictive crusade against Germany’s elite, his determination against former clubs not wavering. Magath triumphed over his previous employers Bayern Munich while at the reigns of Wolfsburg, now the authoritarian plans victory over Wolfsburg at the hands of Schalke. As Munich’s midweek fixture congestion games could be argued of tiring them, Schalke will hope to capitalise and win their first ever Bundesliga title. The prospect of the veteran coach Magath claiming the Bundesliga three times with three different teams is astounding, Quälix’s capability of achieving hero status once again is more than legitimate than ever, and with the current run of form and Magath himself claiming Schalke “will be champions,” even the most stoic Dortmund fan will find it hard to argue against the fact that the Gelsenkirchen side have put up a decent fight.
The likely fact of Bayern winning the Bundesliga still remains, Louis van Gaal’s side look strong but not secure, landing on a banana skin last weekend and gifting Schalke a grasp on the race, the title took a turn for the thrilling for the neutral. While the Bavarians hold hope of making their own record win, 04 also look to carve their piece of history in German football and win the league for the first time in over 50 years. Schalke’s weekend result has guaranteed the club Champions League football for next season and one would agree that Magath has assured himself cult status amongst the clubs following, but the real success lies in dominance and were Schalke to claim the league title this season, one would have to ask if they are capable of retaining the Bundesliga next year? Summer is where the answers lie, as transfer rumours are churned in and out, Magath’s shrewd hovering scouts around Germany have impressed as the signing of Erik Jendrisek from Kaiserslautern and Christoph Metzelder from Real Madrid bolster hopes to dominate.
Strengthening of the squad has ensured fans, albeit with a former Borussia Dortmund player, that along with great forward play, the teams who win tournaments are usually the ones with the best back line. As Schalke welcome Werder Bremen to Gelsenkirchen on the weekend, the presumption of results look increasingly difficult, a tricky prospect no doubt, but with the belief of the fans and capability of the man in the dugout, Schalke can be triumphant. With the ever impressive Benedikt Höwedes looking comfortable the back, the investment of commanding veteran Metzelder will surely swell the Veltins-Arena to major title contenders, if not defending champions. After so much Bavarian dominance, could the shock of Schalke contending the title turn the blood of German football blue?
Meanwhile, in northern Germany, Bruno Labbadia was relieved of his managerial duties by Hamburg on Monday after more humiliation as they were beaten 5-1 away from home by Hoffenheim on Sunday and president Bernd Hoffman, who had stated he would sit down for talks with the coach, had decided it was time for the club part ways with the out of favour coach. Former Tottenham Hotspur skills coach Ricardo Moinz, who followed Martin Jol from Tottenham to Hamburg, has been appointed interim coach for the remaining fixtures. The successive defeats to Hoffenheim and Fulham ended Hamburg’s hopes of European football next season, with the managerial situation unsteady and disheartened hopes in the squad, trying to climb the league table could be punching above their weight.
The German league amalgamated in an unusual partnership this week as South African Premier Soccer League and the Bundesliga came together in a joint venture. Members from the hierarchy of the two leagues have been in talks over a partnership that will oversee an exchange of knowledge and other features between them. The ‘deal’ was finalised on Tuesday which will no doubt boast heavy amounts of sales and marketing, communication will also be key in an effort to improve each others leagues through a swap of information. Bundesliga board member Tom Bender offered these words, “We are convinced that both sides will profit and have enormous benefits from this partnership.”
Meanwhile, Bundesliga veterans Kaiserslautern have been promoted to the top tier after the weekends results swung their away, they will be joined by FC St. Pauli, whose exclusive buccaneers will be ecstatic with the ascendency of their club into the upper echelons of German football. Both outfits have achieved cult status albeit by very different means - Kaiserslautern’s illustrious history and notoriously ferocious followers will be joined in the Bundesliga by St. Pauli’s anti fascist, anti racist thesis. With this dichotomy punctured into the German top tier, this writer can only anticipate that the 2010/11 season will no doubt be one to follow.
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