Schalke opened pre-season training for their first Bundesliga campaign since 2022 on Sunday in front of 3,700 fans, entering an XXL challenge to avoid an instant relegation.
Pre-Season Training Begins Under an XXL Challenge in Gelsenkirchen
Schalke officially stepped back onto the pitch on Sunday, launching their pre-season preparations for life back in the German Bundesliga. A crowd of 3,700 supporters turned out for the opening training session, offering an immediate reminder of the intense backing awaiting the club as they return to the top flight after three seasons stuck in the second division.
Head coach Miron Muslic did not sugarcoat the reality facing his squad. Describing the upcoming campaign as an XXL challenge
, Muslic emphasized the absolute necessity to avoid an instant drop back into the second division which they suffered three years ago.
Head coach Miron Muslic stated via Yahoo Sports that they were happy it was starting again and happy about the fans.
The club has not captured a league title in the Bundesliga era, which began in 1963, but they boast a storied history as runners-up on seven separate occasions, with their most recent second-place finish coming as recently as 2018. To prepare for the step up, management has already added new faces, securing Junior Adamu from Freiburg and Satoshi Tanaka from Fortuna Düsseldorf.
The Edin Džeko Contract Uncertainty and Dialogue After the World Cup
While new signings adjust to their surroundings, the most glaring question mark in Gelsenkirchen remains the future of veteran forward Edin Džeko. The 40-year-old Bosnian star arrived as a surprise winter signing in January and proved his worth immediately, bagging six crucial goals during the Rückrunde to propel Schalke to promotion.
However, Džeko’s short-term deal expired on June 30. Having recently represented Bosnia-Herzegovina at the World Cup—where the national team was eliminated in the round of 32—the forward has yet to publicly commit to another year with the club.
Head coach Miron Muslic stated via Yahoo Sports that they had already agreed before the World Cup that they would discuss this after the World Cup.
That dialogue is expected to yield a definitive answer very soon. Fresh reporting indicates that Schalke’s negotiations with the veteran striker have successfully concluded with a planned one-year contract signing scheduled for Monday, followed by a swift return to team training on Tuesday.
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