SWR: Chapter 674/675

Chapter 674: Gambler Magath
Night had fallen over Gelsenkirchen, Germany, just north of the Veltins-Arena.

In the head coach's office at Schalke 04's training complex, Magath and his trusted assistant coaches were carefully analyzing Schalke's current situation.

Because right now, things were looking bleak for Magath.

How bad?

After six rounds in the Bundesliga, Schalke 04 had one win, one draw, and four losses. They were sitting 17th in the table.

Keep in mind, the Bundesliga only has eighteen teams.

And this record was already an improvement. After four straight losses to start the season, Magath was almost sacked. As the person in charge of the team's overall performance, he bore full responsibility for the poor results.

The root of the problem lay in Schalke 04's transfer window this past summer.

Despite finishing second in the league last season, the club underwent a massive squad overhaul, letting go of key players like Kuranyi, Westermann, and Rafinha, while bringing in names like Raúl, Huntelaar, Metzelder, and Jurado.

Fifteen players left and fourteen came in. The scale of the rebuild was staggering. The level of upheaval was on par with what Gao Shen had done in his first season at Manchester City. The difference, however, was that Schalke was no Manchester City.

A closer look at the players sold by Schalke 04 revealed something peculiar.

Kuranyi left for the Russian Premier League on a free transfer. Asamoah, Grossmüller, Vicente Sánchez, and others also left on frees. Core players like Westermann and Rafinha were sold for just €7.5 million and €9 million respectively.

Why?

Because those out-of-contract players had reached critical points in their renewal negotiations. Westermann, Rafinha, and others all wanted to leave.

Magath only became Schalke's head coach in 2009, so how much blame he should shoulder is still debatable.

Everyone knows that the more crucial a player is, the earlier their contract should be renewed. Waiting until the final year is too risky and leaves the club in a weak position.

It was the departure of this group that forced Schalke 04 into a major rebuild.

The club earned €17 million from those fourteen sales. They then signed fifteen players, spending only about €30 million. The net spend of €15 million wasn't much for a Bundesliga runner-up.

Among the new arrivals were free transfers like Metzelder and Raúl, as well as proven talents like Huntelaar and Jurado. All of them had solid track records in European football.

Still, some wondered—why go through all this trouble?

Wouldn't it have been better to simply build on last season's foundation?

That's why, after four straight losses to start the season, Magath came under intense criticism and was nearly sacked.

But the truth was, Schalke 04 was weighed down by massive debt—€250 million worth.

That was why the club couldn't renew contracts with Kuranyi, Rafinha, and the rest. It couldn't afford big spending in the transfer market. And it was why Schalke 04 gave Magath full control as both manager and head coach.

From the moment Magath took over, he knew it was a gamble.

If he won, he'd be hailed as a savior and reclaim his place among Germany's top coaches.

If he lost, he'd be the scapegoat, dismissed in disgrace.

He boldly proclaimed his goal: win the title by 2013!

But the problem was, with the club buried in debt and no money to spend, what could he do?

Simple. Make money.

And how do you make money?

The Champions League!

Magath was clear about his objective from the start of the season—qualify for the Champions League.

So in the Bundesliga, his goal wasn't to win the title but to secure a top-ten finish. The Champions League was his real battleground this season.

Why was Raúl willing to join Schalke 04?

Because he knew how much Magath valued the Champions League. And Raúl was the key figure Magath was relying on in Europe.

Schalke wanted revenue. Raúl wanted goals and to maintain his title as the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League. It was a perfect match.

The plan made sense and was entirely feasible.

Schalke's 0–0 draw away to Inter Milan in the first round of the group stage gave them a big morale boost.

But their form in the Bundesliga had spiraled far beyond Magath's expectations.

He had overestimated the strength of his bench and reserves.

In truth, Schalke 04's squad still lacked cohesion.

Now, Magath's whole plan had reached a critical juncture.

Whether they advanced from the group stage depended on the match against Manchester City—especially the home leg.

Magath's plan was simple. Beat Inter, Real Madrid, and Manchester City at home. Try to draw away. That would be enough to get through the group.

But Manchester City's 5–0 demolition of Real Madrid in the first round shocked Schalke 04.

They had all expected that Manchester City would be worn down after facing Chelsea. But no one anticipated that Gao Shen would rotate his squad, switch to a 4-3-2-1 Christmas Tree formation, and still beat Chelsea.

This was the match that best showcased Gao Shen's coaching ability!

At least, Magath knew he couldn't pull that off.

Look at what a mess he'd made of the Bundesliga.

Now, at home, he would be facing Manchester City's strongest lineup.

And that was the most terrifying part.

…

"I spoke with Raúl."

Magath looked at the three trusted assistants sitting before him. Some had worked with him for years. Others had followed him from Bayern Munich. All were people he relied on deeply.

"Raúl said Gao Shen doesn't have a fixed lineup strategy. He always adjusts based on the opponent. If there's anything consistent, it's that he prefers to take the initiative. He doesn't like being reactive."

"Of course, that only works when you have the strength to do it."

Magath didn't need to say it out loud. Everyone knew Manchester City had that kind of strength now.

"So…" Bernard Dreyer seemed to sense where Magath was heading.

Magath adjusted his glasses. His gemstone-like eyes, hidden behind the lenses and set in his round face, glinted faintly.

"I want to attack right from the kickoff!"

"Are you crazy?" Dreyer blurted out.

The other two assistants exchanged glances, stunned by Magath's words.

"Are you serious?"

"Against Gao Shen?"

Everyone knew what Gao Shen was famous for—early attacks!

That was his signature tactic. And now Schalke wanted to go head-to-head with Manchester City from the first whistle?

Wasn't that suicide?

Going all-out on offense?

Even Real Madrid and Chelsea wouldn't dare try that!

Magath shrugged and spread his hands. "What else can we do?"

The assistants all fell silent.

Yeah, what else could they do?

"Defend? Do you think we can hold off Manchester City's attack? Metzelder, Papadopoulos, Matip, and Uchida from Japan—even if they work well together, they might still struggle against that kind of firepower. And they haven't even developed real chemistry yet."

That 0–0 draw with Inter Milan happened because Inter weren't strong offensively either.

In the Bundesliga, Schalke 04 had conceded twelve goals in six games. That was an average of two goals per match.

With that kind of defense, who could realistically stop Manchester City?

Magath certainly didn't believe they could.

Dreyer and the others agreed with his analysis. Schalke was clearly at a disadvantage. But that didn't mean they had to go for all-out offense.

"This is too risky. If we concede early, we could suffer a devastating defeat. That might even ruin our entire group-stage campaign. Have you thought about that?" Dreyer cautioned.

He believed attacking Manchester City head-on was the worst possible idea.

"Come on, Bernard. From the moment I took over Schalke 04, you, me, everyone—we all knew this was a gamble. There's no turning back. Once you sit at the table, you play until the end!"

Magath's face was set in a determined scowl.

People were often fooled by his round face and glasses, but in reality, he was one of the most ruthless characters in the Bundesliga.

Kill and rob and they'll sing your praises. Build bridges and roads and no one remembers your name.

"Either I win and the world praises me, or I lose and everyone curses me."

Magath was clearly ready for whatever outcome awaited him.

Managers are always the ones who get blamed.

But so what?

To succeed, you need a platform.

If you're not willing to take the fall, why would any club give you the opportunity?

Unless you're already one of the elite, you're just a scapegoat waiting to happen.

The only difference is who takes the hit.

Gao Shen?

Hmph, he's just a lucky guy who showed up at the right time.

Magath firmly believed that if he had been in charge of Real Madrid back then, he wouldn't have done any worse than Gao Shen.

With a La Liga and Champions League double, who couldn't look good?

As a former top player, Magath, like many ex-players turned managers, had a deep sense of pride. Especially when dealing with managers who had never played professionally—he simply didn't respect their achievements.

Football is incredibly complex. Outsiders can never truly grasp it.

Only by enduring twenty or thirty years of grueling training and competition can one understand the soul of the sport.

"Bernard, I'm not discussing this with you. I'm telling you what I'm going to do!"

Magath's tone grew sharper, showing that he was clearly annoyed by his assistant's doubts.

If even your closest aides don't believe in your plan, how can the players?

"I will prove that my decision is right with a victory in three days!"

"Just wait and see!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 675: Are You Really Not Afraid of Death?

On the evening of September 29, at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

When Italian referee Rocchi blew the whistle to start the match, Schalke 04, playing at home, immediately launched a fierce attack on Manchester City. Just thirty seconds into the game, young midfielder Baumjohann fired a shot from outside the box, but Neuer calmly handled it.

The German goalkeeper had started his career at Schalke 04. Facing his former club, he was visibly excited.

But Schalke's fans still booed Neuer, clearly displeased with their former player now wearing the Manchester City badge, especially since they were now opponents.

The opening attack ended with a shot. Though it lacked any real threat, it boosted Schalke 04's confidence.

They began actively pressing Manchester City, looking for chances to attack.

It was something Gao Shen didn't quite understand.

…

"Where does Magath get his confidence from?"

Gao Shen looked toward the home bench. Magath was sitting inside, out of view, and Gao Shen had no way of knowing what the German manager was thinking. Still, he was baffled.

"With Schalke 04's current defensive quality, does he really think they can withstand our counterattack?"

That wasn't just empty talk. Manchester City was one of the most offensively dangerous teams in European football.

Schalke's Bundesliga performance had been poor this season, yet here was Magath choosing to press and attack. Gao Shen couldn't wrap his head around it.

"Maybe he wants to catch us off guard, throw us off rhythm with a surprise attack," Sarri suggested with a grin.

Gao Shen thought about it, then shook his head. "Then he's asking for death."

Sure enough, after just under two minutes of disorganization, Manchester City launched a swift counterattack and broke into Schalke's penalty area. Gareth Bale unleashed a long-range shot from the left, just slightly high.

It was a warning shot.

But what puzzled Gao Shen even more was that Schalke 04 showed no fear and continued to press, unwilling to back down from Manchester City.

Tonight, Magath used a 4-4-2 formation, with Raúl and Huntelaar up front, and a diamond midfield.

Based on the lineup, Schalke's tactics were clearly aggressive.

"Could it be the pressure getting to him?" Carlo guessed.

Everyone knew Schalke 04's position in the Bundesliga was concerning. They had fallen to 17th in the table, even suffering four consecutive defeats. The pressure on Magath was enormous.

Under that kind of stress, it was entirely possible he would gamble, trying something unorthodox.

Like going all in against Manchester City.

It wasn't that Schalke 04 was weak.

If they were truly weak, this Bundesliga side wouldn't have made it to the Champions League semifinals in Gao Shen's past life.

But Magath's decision was undeniably risky.

Everyone knew that Manchester City thrived against teams that pressed high.

Magath now gave Gao Shen the impression that he was saying, Everyone thinks you're strong, but I don't buy it. I'm going to fight you head-on and see how strong you really are!

And knowing Magath's personality, that kind of thinking was very possible.

Gao Shen actually admired such a veteran European coach with such a strong individual character. He also understood that Magath's situation was very difficult, and the pressure he was under was huge. So if he could be the final straw that broke the camel's back, Gao Shen was more than happy to oblige.

Ideally, he'd bring down Magath and Schalke all at once!

…

Faced with Schalke's aggressive start, Gao Shen didn't make any tactical adjustments.

He trusted his players to handle it.

Manchester City quickly found their footing and launched counterattacks, but Schalke 04 stayed aggressive. In the 14th minute, Schalke earned a corner from Farfán's cross on the right.

The Bundesliga side played the corner short, sending the ball into the penalty area, but David Luiz cleared it with a header.

Javi Martínez leapt and headed the second ball to the left.

Gareth Bale pounced on it after controlling the ball.

The Welshman sprinted forward with large strides.

Schalke's right-back, Japanese international Atsuto Uchida, continued retreating as Bale advanced at full speed.

But just as he approached the edge of the box, Bale suddenly cut inside and passed to David Silva.

The Spanish midfielder had been sprinting the entire way. Just as he received the ball and stopped it, without giving the defenders time to close down, he slotted a pass behind the left side of the defense.

Suárez perfectly timed his run to avoid the offside trap, cutting diagonally into the left side of the penalty area. After controlling the ball, he took a quick left-footed shot before the goalkeeper could react, sending it into the bottom left corner of Schalke's net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"In the 14th minute, Suárez scores against Schalke 04!"

"That was a classic Manchester City counterattack. Gareth Bale's pace was explosive, and the coordination during the break was clinical. Schalke's defenders had no answer for City's ferocity!"

…

Gao Shen stood on the sideline clapping hard, applauding Suárez's goal.

He turned again to look toward Schalke's bench, but still couldn't see Magath.

He wondered what the German was thinking at that moment.

No matter. Keep attacking!

If you dare go head-to-head with me, even on your home turf, then you're asking for it!

Did you really think Manchester City was one of those Champions League pretenders who only looked the part?

Yes, I'm talking about you. Don't hide, Ibrahimović!

As the players finished celebrating and headed back for the restart, Gao Shen walked to the touchline, signaling his team to keep pressing forward. Push for another goal.

Just three minutes later, Zabaleta crossed from the right, and Suárez's header went just wide.

Two minutes after that, Robben received a pass from Rakitić, cut inside from the right, and shot with his weaker right foot at a tight angle. But it hit the side netting.

In the 22nd minute, Suárez tracked back, stole the ball from Matip, and quickly played a diagonal pass to Robben on the right. The Dutchman sprinted into the penalty area, stopped quickly, beat Metzelder with a dribble, and fired a low shot into the far corner with his left foot, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

2–0!

The entire Veltins-Arena was filled with boos.

It was clear the Schalke fans weren't just venting at Manchester City. They were furious with their own team, believing Magath's tactics had completely failed.

Two goals conceded in less than thirty minutes.

…

Right after the second goal, Gao Shen finally saw Magath walk out of the home bench and stand on the sideline, directing his players. He looked dejected and disheartened, signaling his team to focus on defense.

"Well, now you've finally come to your senses." Gao Shen laughed, with a bit of devilish satisfaction.

Magath was a strong-willed and rigid coach. What fans remembered best was probably the soul-crushing preseason training he ran during his time at Bayern.

How grueling was it?

As the joke goes, he'd tell his players every day, "Let's go hiking together."

And they really would hike. For hours.

There was a running joke within the Bayern squad back then:

If Magath had been on the Titanic, everyone would've swum back to Southampton.

It was obviously a joke—maybe even sarcasm—but it reflected Magath's true nature.

He was tough. Proud. Stubborn.

And he was a serious gambler.

That was why Bayern sacked him, and why he later took over a debt-ridden Schalke 04 in 2009.

Any other big-name coach would have stayed far away from a club like Schalke 04.

But Magath clearly wanted to bet big and take his career to the next level. So he accepted a dual role as manager and head coach.

Last season's runner-up finish in the league gave him confidence. That was why he let players like Kuranyi leave and restructured the team. But this season's results had plummeted. Forget a top-ten finish. Right now, avoiding relegation would be a success.

And now, facing Manchester City, he doubled down again.

People said Magath wasn't a risk-taker.

That was wrong. He simply didn't take small risks. When he gambled, he went all in.

That's what made him such a dangerous competitor.

…

Magath's adjustments had some effect. Schalke managed to stabilize a bit.

But Manchester City had already taken control. They began creating chances with ease.

With possession secured and the tempo in their hands, City's players were growing more aggressive.

Gareth Bale on the left, Suárez and Robben on the right, even David Silva and Rakitić from midfield—everyone pushed forward to create danger.

Right before the end of the first half, Manchester City launched an attack from the left.

David Silva played a one-two with Gareth Bale, who then passed to Suárez. The Uruguayan, with his back to goal, controlled the ball and laid it off instantly.

David Silva burst forward, received the return pass from Suárez, cut into the box, and struck from the left side. The ball flew into Schalke's net again.

3–0!

Gao Shen was very pleased with the scoreline.

He'd originally thought it would be tough playing away at Schalke, but he hadn't expected Magath to hand him such a gift.

Whether it was out of desperation or pure gambling instinct, Magath had chosen to fight City head-on.

Not just in the first half either. Even after going 0–3 down early in the second half, Schalke still tried to press forward.

Gao Shen couldn't help but wonder—Is he really not afraid of death?

(To be continued.)