W hoever wants to rise, as the old prophecy goes, must also win the dirty games; anyway, the necessary luck is required. This applies especially in this second-division season, which currently seems to be swinging, with the first five teams separated by only five points. And on top of that, relegation candidates are regularly able to pose very uncomfortable questions to the top teams.
If that’s the case, then Schalke not only has the best chances because of its slender two-point lead on the rest, but this season they have also the necessary luck. Against Bielefeld, a lucky tap-in by Edin Džeko was enough to secure the next ugly victory; although ‘ugly’ here is, of course, a matter of perspective. On screen Schalke’s football looks truly brutal, as if you have to watch for 90 minutes an ox pulling a plow through the field in damp, foggy weather. In the stadium, however, there is as much joy as ever: every tackle is cheered, and since there are so many tackles at the moment, the sun of joy shines over the arena on weekends.
Schalke’s downfall is also due to Libuda, or “Stats Libuda,” an AI that sorts players according to Schalke’s newly defined DNA. A scouting system that focuses mainly on more primary qualities: sprints, duels won, kilometers covered. That they did not name the oomph after Marc Wilmots is one of the great mysteries of the age of artificial intelligence.
Schalke’s football looks as if one has to watch an ox pulling a plow
Actually, after the winter break one might have thought that S04’s repertoire could expand: besides Edin Džeko (who doesn’t necessarily bring the new Schalke qualities, but after five goals in seven games is already the team’s second-best scorer) there was also Adil Aouchiche in February. The AI had sorted him out as “too good” for Schalke; whereby “too good” means that he can also play a clean pass. And above all, can also deliver clean set-pieces. That had been missing in the first half. Also the goal against Bielefeld came from an Aouchiche corner.
Late winter then indeed followed games in which even bystanders on the pitch could recognize “football” in the action, including a spectacular 5:3 against Magdeburg. Since then, however, Schalke’s newly minted football is back: running, running, running through the day, through the night, through the day again—running, running. And the courage has grown tired and the longing is so great—to be able to play Dortmund again soon. And those with this unpleasant, bear-like football would gladly spoil their tour, perhaps twice a year. That would be dirty, but beautiful. Frédéric Valin
