Schalke 04 have sacked coach Huub Stevens despite being in Thursday’s last 16 draw in the Champions League.
Topping Group B ahead of Arsenal and Olympiacos wasn’t enough to save Stevens who was sacked after losing 3-1 to Freiburg at the weekend.
Schalke are one of Celtic’s seven possible opponents in Thursday’s draw and have turned to youth coach Jans Keller who will be in charge till the end of the season.
The defeat from Freiburg leaves Schalke in seventh place in the Bundesliga having lost four and drawn two of their last six matches.
“We sat down this morning and had a discussion with Huub Stevens,” Schalke sports director Horst Heldt explained. “We analysed the situation together and came to the conclusion that it made sense to end the collaboration immediately.
“The Bundesliga is our daily bread and there we were well behind expectations.
Stevens was in his second spell in charge of Schalke having previously led the club to success in the 1997 UEFA Cup.
“Obviously I was surprised,” new coach Keller stated. “But obviously it is not something you turn down, being part of one of the big European leagues.
“We need to talk to the boys now, take away the fear they show in their game. I want them to see the cup tie (tonight against Mainz) as a final and to end the year on a positive note.”
Schalke picked up seven of their 12 Champions League points away from home including an impressive 2-0 over Arsenal at The Emirates.
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