Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler (l.) says he understands the fans' frustrations following Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Köln (© Imago)
Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler (l.) says he understands the fans' frustrations following Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Köln (© Imago)

Draxler: 'One of our worst performances in recent years'

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Cologne - As the 1. FC Köln players celebrated the win that keeps them safe for another season, FC Schalke 04 slunk off to the away dressing room despairing at an unexpectedly poor showing.

FC Schalke 04

bundesliga.com rounds up some of the post-match thoughts of those involved in the Billy Goats' convincing 2-0 victory at the RheinEnergieStadion...

Julian Draxler: "We played really badly. I don't know what was wrong with us. You're not going to win games in the Bundesliga like that. I'm pretty sure it was one of our worst performances in recent years. I'm happy I didn't have to watch the game from the sidelines. Personally speaking, that's just not enough. I'm trying my best after a long time out injured, but I'm reaching my limits at the moment. We're also aware of the anger of our fans. They have reason to be unhappy and vent their anger. Having said that, we have to get through what's been a poor season together."

Benedikt Höwedes: "It's difficult for me to find explanations for poor performances like this week after week. I make myself sound unbelievable if we then don't deliver on the pitch. We were missing everything that makes us Schalke. There was no passion, willingness to run or emotion. We couldn't do anything with the ball in attack and couldn't get a grip on Köln. The gaps were too big, we didn't do anything without the ball. It's a mystery to me that we didn't stick to what we set out to do. Everyone has to ask themselves whether they really put everything into action. It's sad that we played that way."

1. FC Köln


Matthias Lehmann: "We’re really, really happy [to be safe]. I think it was a deserved win. We can all be really proud of the season up to now. We’ve never been in or flirting with [the relegation zone], we’ve always been above the waterline. To do it today with two games still to go is sensational. I don’t know [if we'll celebrate tonight]. We’ll have to see what’s going on in the dressing room. One or two of us might raise a toast."

Yannick Gerhardt: "I haven’t got anything planned [celebration-wise]. I’m one of the younger lads, I think the older guys will take charge, but I’ll definitely be involved regardless."