Schalke boss backs under-fire Magath

Schalke 04’s chairman Clemens Toennies said he has every confidence in manager Felix Magath, despite the Royal Blues suffering their worst start to the Bundesliga in the club’s history.

Schalke were beaten 3-1 at home by arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund last Sunday, leaving them without a point at the bottom of the league after four straight defeats, and Magath has admitted his squad is lacking confidence.

The Royal Blues face Freiburg in the Bundesliga today, then Borussia M’gladbach on Saturday before taking on Benfica on September 29 in the Champions League, and badly need a morale-boosting win.

Despite signing Spain veteran Raul and Holland’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Schalke are struggling for form and have lost their last five games including the 1-0 defeat at Lyon in the Champions League.

“I do not doubt the quality of the coach,” Toennies, the chairman of Schalke’s board said.

Magath has made sweeping chan­ges at Schalke, but Toennies insists the new team needs time to gel.

“Of course, I believe in the team. We are not plotting a zig-zag course and we have set out to establish a new side. A revolution will take time.

“It is a serious situation, but not a crisis. (It is a false start) that we will now correct.”