FC Schalke 04: 5 things we learned from 5-0 loss to Bayern
2. Todibo should get his chance
Matija Nastasic has been solid for Schalke this season, but he put together by far his worst game of the 2019-2020 campaign on Matchday 19. At no point did Nastasic look composed or aware of his surroundings, as Bayern frequently made runs in behind the center back in the box, catching him completely off guard.
While Nastasic is a solid center back, he looks more like a key backup than an ideal starter. And the reality is that with Benjamin Stambouli and Salif Sane injured, Nastasic isn’t their ideal starter anyway.
So Schalke should take a hint from his poor game against Bayern and see it as an opportunity to experiment with new loan signing Jean-Clair Todibo. It would have been unfair to start Todibo in such a high-pressured match against Bayern, but it is perfectly reasonable to play him against Hertha Berlin next Friday.
With the way Ozan Kabak has played for Schalke this season, perhaps Todibo can be another young center back who immediately plays at a high level. It doesn’t hurt to find out.
3. Benito Raman was badly missed
Benito Raman was a late exclusion from the squad, as he had to miss the game with an infection. The Belgian forward was sorely missed, perhaps even more than Schalke fans expected to miss the in-form striker.
Without Raman, Schalke were listless in the attack. The other forwards didn’t show quite the same work rate as Raman, nor did they have half the pace to truly threaten in the attack. Raman has tremendous chemistry with Amine Harit and, already, Michael Gregoritsch, so his absence hurt both players. Gregoritsch couldn’t make up the difference in work rate, and Harit didn’t have a competent forward off the ball.
It’s amazing the ripple effect Raman’s absence had on the rest of the team. They had no confidence in front of goal, pressed ineffectively, put Harit in troublesome situations, and were pushed back in midfield.
Raman’s return will be a huge boost to the Royal Blues entire squad.