Club once again searching for a new head coach after Christian Gross’s departure, but few will be tempted by the poisoned chalice

Ultimately, there were few surprises. Avoidable goals conceded from set-pieces. A threatened second-half renaissance when it was already too late. And a shambolic, stumbling, chaotic ending like an unwelcome drinker being turfed dishevelled from the doors of the hostelry at the end of a long night.Yes, Schalke’s 5-1 defeat at Stuttgart or “promoted Stuttgart”, as it has been obligatory to underline in German media, as if Schalke’s humiliation needed to be made more acute, contained all the hallmarks of a performance under Christian Gross. Possibly the worst part of it is that the veteran Swiss coach’s spell in charge has been the best, most productive spell of their season (and it did contain their sole win), though it’s all comparative in a campaign that has secured nine points from 23 games.
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