There is an issue with Schalke and it is pretty simple as it stems from the philosophy of Di Matteo and the players that he has available to him.
You all know how much I hate cowboy football and how risky the tactic is, as it leads to entertaining matches...but usually ends in a loss. And Schalke with their old boss were the biggest proponents of that psychotic tactic. That is why I called for the coach's head, and unlike my calls for Blanc, this call was answered. But his replacement, which may have made sense....was the wrong man.
Di Matteo preaches defence, and especially when he does not have the right attacking players, his sole focus is on STOPPING the team from scoring. This is a noble philosophy, but it does not work for every team with every player. What Roberto is doing with Howedes and gang is not working, and their display against Dortmund was just as embarrassing as performances come. It was a complete joke.
Schalke are a team that rely HEAVILY on Huntelaar. He is the only real goalscorer on the team and is substantially the best player they have. Draxler is the hype man, and the Prince Boateng is totally not the same kind of player he was when back at AC Milan. And I just can't vouch or even whisper about the rest of the players. But one thing they are not is a team that can stop teams from scoring with a tough defensive centre like Leverkusen.
When you look at Leverkusen and their players, and how hard they work and how organized they are, that is a team that is HARD to score against. But the thing is they have the personnel that can play the more conservative type of football. Schalke really need to find a balance in the middle. The cowboy football leaves them to open to get sliced and diced, and by being too defensive they will concede and won't win games because they are not good enough at the back to stop goals from leaking.
The only thing that can work in the future for Di Matteo and Schalke is if he is given a summer to really try and search for the players that will be of use to him. So Boateng may need to be replaced for someone like Mata back at the time where Roberto was coaching Chelsea. A player that can pick out the right pass and unleash a quick two-three pass counter with a chance created.
All I can say is this....if I was a Schalke fan and Isaw that disgrace of a display against Dortmund, I would be beyond pissed off and would actually demand a sit-down with Di Matteo and for him to explain just exactly what the hell he was thinking going to a match with NO INTEREST in trying to score a goal ore even create some goalscoring opportunities.
The fit does not work....
HH
