The 5-1 defeat in the DFB Cup against TSG Hoffenheim further worsened the mood at Schalke 04. For the first time, very clear "Kramer raus!" calls echoed from the S04 curve. Rouven Schröder left the outcome of the announced analysis open, but also protected the coach somewhat.

The second clear defeat against Hoffenheim within a few days. Unsurprisingly, the mood at Schalke has deteriorated significantly since last Friday. It was clear to see on the pitch that the cup game had already been given up internally with the focus on the Bundesliga. That's how the team showed up.

After the game, the shouts of "Kramer out!" resounded very clearly from the crowd for the first time. So far on Friday they had only been heard sporadically, but late Tuesday evening they could be heard loudly. The Ultras who had traveled with us had already stopped providing support during the game.

"After a game like that, I can understand everything," Rouven Schröder then commented on the criticism (via WAZ). At first he seemed to want to protect his trainer: "It is perfectly clear that nobody is satisfied. Frank Kramer is a poor dog today."

When asked what the consequences of this appearance would be, the sports director remained quite vague. "Everyone is screaming for consequences, but we decide for Schalke 04," he emphasized. Nevertheless, "a picture" was shown on the pitch "that we didn't want to show".

Schröder emphasized how important the analysis of the current situation, which is expected to last through the night, is now. After a game like this, you are "well advised to give us your opinion," he explained. He assumed it would last longer. "Maybe there are things that you can change, to press a button so that we're better again," he speculated, because he knows very well that "you won't survive in Berlin with such a performance".

"We wanted to put everything in the balance against an opponent who is better at football - but we didn't do that," Schröder said, also criticizing the team. "The worst thing for me personally is that we missed the basics, such as tackling. It doesn't matter whether the opponent is better: I can't let myself be fooled. That's unacceptable."

First of all, it remains unclear whether Kramer can continue after this again disastrous performance, or whether he will be released before the Hertha duel. Schröder's emphasis on the open starting position suggests at least the second scenario.

The coach himself was quite upset with his team after the final whistle. "That was indisputably the worst performance of the season, it doesn't get any worse than that," he said directly. In view of this achievement, he was "almost speechless". It was simply "a mystery to him with what helplessness we went to work".

"We could have played with eight players in the front row. But if you don't fight you won't be able to prevent goals," he explained to the coach.

At half-time he appealed "to the honor" of his players. Many fans noticed that Kramer was back inside the stadium before his team. His explanation for the half-time speech: "It was energetic and loud, but short and sweet. When it comes to basic virtues, you don't need to stand long at the tactics board."

This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as Schröder reacts to "Kramer raus!" calls - coaches criticize the players.