Following the Royal Blues' Matchday 32 loss against Paderborn, Kees van Wonderen's departure from the club - which had been scheduled for the end of the campaign - was brought forward, with U23 coach Jakob Fimpel set to oversee Schalke's final two games of the season.

Speaking after the news of Van Wonderen's premature departure, Youri Mulder, Schalke's director of professional football, said, "[The team's] performance and development over the past two weeks are particularly a cause for concern. We are only six points away from the relegation zone, and the trend is negative. That's why we have decided to react now. We have a responsibility to the club."

This will be Fimpel's second stint with the Schalke seniors this season, the 36-year-old having overseen games against Preußen Münster and Hertha Berlin in the first-half of the campaign. 

"The situation is different than it was in the autumn and I'm fully aware of that," Fimpel explained. "It's about embracing the challenge in the final stretch of the season and going onto the pitch every day with the right spirit."

Fimpel has been at Schalke since 2013. - IMAGO/Jens D¸nhˆlter

The Miners find themselves in 13th position in Bundesliga 2, six points above the relegation play-off with remaining games against Fortuna Düsseldorf and Elversberg to come. 

"[Survival] is in our own hands," said Mulder. "We need at least one more point to be sure of staying in the league. Everyone is required to give their all and put their heart and soul into it. [Jakob] will reach the team emotionally with his approach, provide them with clear structures for training and matches and demand a high level of commitment from each individual."

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