A disappointing season could turn into a disastrous one for Schalke if they fail to beat second-division MSV Duisburg in the German Cup final in Berlin on Saturday.
Victory would ensure qualification for the Europa League and provide consolation for the ambitious club from Gelsenkirchen, who were tipped as possible champions but ended the season 14th after ditching coach and manager Felix Magath.
It would also ease some of the pain for Schalke's huge loyal following of seeing arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund win the league title.
"We cannot ruin the season completely by losing this match," general manager Horst Heldt said. "Duisburg have nothing to lose, while we have everything to lose."
Magath - now with Wolfsburg - had led Schalke into the final, beating Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, before his dismissal.
Now coach Ralf Rangnick is charged with bringing Schalke a fifth cup title against Ruhr neighbours Duisburg, who are only some 30 kilometres down the road. He was also coach at Schalke's last final appearance in 2005, when the Blues lost 2-1 to Bayern.
"Felix Magath certainly has a share of any title win but in my view it would mainly be a triumph for the team for which they would deserve the credit," he told the German football federation website.
Schalke go into the final after a run of six defeats, four in the league and two in the Champions League, but their cup exploits this season - knocking Valencia and Inter Milan out of the Champions League as well as Bayern in the cup - show they can raise their game when needed.
For keeper and captain Manuel Neuer, it will in all probability be a last appearance in the Schalke colours he has worn for 20 years since joining the club as a boy.
The 25-year-old Germany number one, whose move to Bayern Munich is expected to be confirmed following the game, is desperate to lift the cup at the Olympic Stadium to bring Schalke a first major title since their 2002 cup win.
"We want to be celebrating in the end," Neuer told the Sport Bild weekly.
"It would be my first title as a professional at Schalke 04. That's something I certainly won't forget for the rest of my life. Our aim is to win the cup for us and the fans."
Duisburg, who finished eighth in the second division, are appearing at their fourth cup final, having lost all their three previous appearances in 1966, 1975 and 1998.
The Zebras eliminated first-division Cologne and Kaiserslautern on the way to the final, but they arrive in Berlin with a long list of injured or suspended players.
"At the moment I only know that 11 players will take the pitch," said Duisburg's Croatian coach Milan Sasic.
The two teams have only played each other once before in the cup - when Duisburg thrashed their neighbours 6-0 in the last 16 in 1966.
Another win would be a major upset, Sasic conceded.
"But we live from our team spirit and it is only a single game in which a lot can happen," he said.
"We won deservedly against Cologne and Kaiserslautern and I think we have enough self-confidence to be able to judge our own strengths. We respect Schalke, but don't fear them."
Victory would ensure qualification for the Europa League and provide consolation for the ambitious club from Gelsenkirchen, who were tipped as possible champions but ended the season 14th after ditching coach and manager Felix Magath.
It would also ease some of the pain for Schalke's huge loyal following of seeing arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund win the league title.
"We cannot ruin the season completely by losing this match," general manager Horst Heldt said. "Duisburg have nothing to lose, while we have everything to lose."
Magath - now with Wolfsburg - had led Schalke into the final, beating Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, before his dismissal.
Now coach Ralf Rangnick is charged with bringing Schalke a fifth cup title against Ruhr neighbours Duisburg, who are only some 30 kilometres down the road. He was also coach at Schalke's last final appearance in 2005, when the Blues lost 2-1 to Bayern.
"Felix Magath certainly has a share of any title win but in my view it would mainly be a triumph for the team for which they would deserve the credit," he told the German football federation website.
Schalke go into the final after a run of six defeats, four in the league and two in the Champions League, but their cup exploits this season - knocking Valencia and Inter Milan out of the Champions League as well as Bayern in the cup - show they can raise their game when needed.
For keeper and captain Manuel Neuer, it will in all probability be a last appearance in the Schalke colours he has worn for 20 years since joining the club as a boy.
The 25-year-old Germany number one, whose move to Bayern Munich is expected to be confirmed following the game, is desperate to lift the cup at the Olympic Stadium to bring Schalke a first major title since their 2002 cup win.
"We want to be celebrating in the end," Neuer told the Sport Bild weekly.
"It would be my first title as a professional at Schalke 04. That's something I certainly won't forget for the rest of my life. Our aim is to win the cup for us and the fans."
Duisburg, who finished eighth in the second division, are appearing at their fourth cup final, having lost all their three previous appearances in 1966, 1975 and 1998.
The Zebras eliminated first-division Cologne and Kaiserslautern on the way to the final, but they arrive in Berlin with a long list of injured or suspended players.
"At the moment I only know that 11 players will take the pitch," said Duisburg's Croatian coach Milan Sasic.
The two teams have only played each other once before in the cup - when Duisburg thrashed their neighbours 6-0 in the last 16 in 1966.
Another win would be a major upset, Sasic conceded.
"But we live from our team spirit and it is only a single game in which a lot can happen," he said.
"We won deservedly against Cologne and Kaiserslautern and I think we have enough self-confidence to be able to judge our own strengths. We respect Schalke, but don't fear them."
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