How Schalke 04 can recover from a difficult start to the season

Tedesco’s men in UCL action this evening

After a second-placed finish in last season’s Bundesliga, things have started in far less impressive fashion for Schalke 04 this term.

Second-bottom with no points from their first three games, Domenico Tedesco’s side will be looking to finally kick-start their season tonight. They host FC Porto in the Champions League.

Ahead of their UCL clash, the Coral News Team look at how Tedesco and co. can revive things after a poor start to the campaign…

Time to ditch the defensive trio

Playing three at the back worked well for Schalke last term. But it’s failing as a system right now, due to the exit of defender Thilo Kehrer to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

Without the 21-year-old’s energy and intelligent game-reading, Die Konigsblauen look extremely exposed playing a defensive trio.

That’s been borne out by recent results, with Schalke conceding two goals in each of their first three games – including a first home loss to Hertha BSC since 2004.

With decent full-back additions in Hamza Mendyl and Chelsea loanee Baba Rahman this summer, moving to a back four seems far more sensible.

Their style doesn’t fit the main strikers

While Schalke did grab second spot in the Bundesliga last term, they were hardly free scoring. In fact, Tedesco’s side had the lowest tally (53) of any top-six side.

The main issue is that the head coach’s system just isn’t working for the first choice strikers.