GELSENKIRCHEN (AFP) – On the eve of the new Bundesliga season, Schalke coach Felix Magath has threatened to quit the title contenders after being repeatedly criticised by the club s fans.
Magath worked a near-miracle last season to take Schalke to the verge of the Bundesliga title as they finished second behind champions Bayern Munich, but he has a reputation for being a hard taskmaster.
Having finished eighth in 2009, Magath reorganised the Royal Blues and earned a Champions League place for this season. He has a contract until 2013.
His success at Schalke, where he has transformed a club crippled by financial problems, has mirrored the miracles he achieved in taking little-fancied Wolfsburg to their first Bundesliga title in 2009.
Having sold Germany defender Heiko Westermann and released a group of players, Magath has been repeatedly criticised by Schalke s fans over his style of management and defended himself at Thursday s press conference.
It is beyond me that this is going on now, just before the start of the new season, said the 57-year-old who has signed Spain striker Raul and Germany defender Christoph Metzelder for the new season.
I can neither understand nor comprehend the fears of the fans.
I have been asked to restructure the club, over a year ago Schalke was in a crisis.
I have also never said anything other than that, though I strive for success and want to be with the German champion, that would only be done on a sound basis.
If you no longer want that, than I m the wrong man.
Schalke open their Bundesliga season against Hamburg on Saturday night.