Schalke should not be downbeat; they were beaten by a better team
The aggregate defeat suffered by Schalke at the hands of Manchester United was the heaviest inflicted at this stage of the competition since its inception. They were beaten by five clear goals and never looked like coming close to disrupting United over the course of two legs.
Indeed, had it not been for Manuel Neuer, it could have been far worse. It leaves the European football audience with a perception of Schalke as a two-bit operation, scarcely able to string a pair of passes together in a row. They were underwhelming, that much is undeniable, but their run to that stage of the competition betrays the legacy they left to neutral observers.
Schalke's campaign led to them being out of their depth, by a long way, but they deserved their shot at the big time. They negotiated their way past Lyon and Benfica, the Eagles representing Portugal as champions, before outmanoeuvring Valencia and outclassing reigning champions Inter. They did so with resolution, conviction and an intrepid spirit. Schalke supplied the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper and featured Jefferson Farfan as well as Raul who, at the age of 33, proved that there is life in the old dog yet. Felix Magath also introduced to the continental consciousness Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Peer Kluge, who were largely impressive throughout the campaign.
More difficult times are afoot for Schalke, given their financial predicament and an impending transfer window, but the club and its supporters should look back on the 2011 Champions League campaign with much pride.
The aggregate defeat suffered by Schalke at the hands of Manchester United was the heaviest inflicted at this stage of the competition since its inception. They were beaten by five clear goals and never looked like coming close to disrupting United over the course of two legs. Indeed, had it not been for Manuel Neuer, it could have been far worse. It leaves the European football audience with a perception of Schalke as a two-bit operation, scarcely able to string a pair of passes together in a row. They were underwhelming, that much is undeniable, but their run to that stage of the competition betrays the legacy they left to neutral observers.
Schalke's campaign led to them being out of their depth, by a long way, but they deserved their shot at the big time. They negotiated their way past Lyon and Benfica, the Eagles representing Portugal as champions, before outmanoeuvring Valencia and outclassing reigning champions Inter. They did so with resolution, conviction and an intrepid spirit. Schalke supplied the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper and featured Jefferson Farfan as well as Raul who, at the age of 33, proved that there is life in the old dog yet. Felix Magath also introduced to the continental consciousness Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Peer Kluge, who were largely impressive throughout the campaign.
More difficult times are afoot for Schalke, given their financial predicament and an impending transfer window, but the club and its supporters should look back on the 2011 Champions League campaign with much pride.
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