Schalke: 5 players who must step up after loss to RB Leipzig
RB Jonjoe Kenny
For my money, Jonjoe Kenny was the worst player on the pitch in both 5-0 losses to Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig. After an exceptional Hinrunde, a combination of injury and poor play has greatly hurt Kenny’s value, to the point where Schalke have to be wary of overpaying Everton for the player if they want to keep him beyond 2019-2020.
Kenny is a valuable player at right back in the Bundesliga, but hard work isn’t enough. He needs to be more disciplined positionally, because he’s seriously causing a great deal of stress on his center backs and center midfielders with insufficient benefit on the attacking end.
ST Benito Raman
Since his hot streak in the Hinrunde after a return from injury, Benito Raman has been quite average lately. It’s no coincidence that Raman’s downturn in form has corresponded with a lack of goals for Schalke, who have scored just once in their last Bundesliga games against Bayern, Hertha Berlin, SC Paderborn 07, Mainz 05, and Leipzig.
Raman was dreadful against Leipzig, surprising many fans in attendance at the Veltins Arena. Like always, the Belgian never stopped working hard, but he needs to be more aware. There were several times when he did not check his runs or work back from offsides positions, and his pressing was not methodical enough.
Next. 5 things we learned from Schalke's loss to Leipzig. dark
Like the others on this list, Raman is capable of greatness. David Wagner needs to work with him to get more productivity out of his star forward.