Schalke 04 midfielder Leon Goretzka believes the recent additions of Holger Badstuber and Guido Burgstaller can play a major role in helping the team rebound in the second half of the Bundesliga season. Schalke’s campaign so far has been a rollercoaster—starting with five consecutive losses, followed by a mid-season recovery, only to stumble again with a 2-1 defeat to Hamburg just before the winter break. As it stands, Schalke sits in 11th place, far below expectations. In December alone, Markus Weinzierl’s side suffered three defeats in four matches.
To address the inconsistency, Schalke acted in the January transfer window by bringing in defender Badstuber on loan from Bayern Munich and signing Austrian forward Burgstaller from second-division side Nürnberg. While Badstuber’s defensive skills are well recognized, Goretzka also sees great promise in Burgstaller, who scored 14 goals in the 2. Bundesliga before the break. “Both players fit in perfectly,” Goretzka told the club’s official website. “Burgstaller’s movement will really help our attack. After such a successful first half of the season with Nürnberg, he’s brimming with confidence—which is crucial for a striker.”
Schalke’s front line has been plagued by injuries this season, with Breel Embolo, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, and Franco Di Santo all sidelined for extended periods. The club’s top scorer so far is actually midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, who is on loan from Tottenham—and even he has only four goals. Now, Bentaleb is away on international duty with Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations and will miss the early stages of the second half of the season.
Schalke is set to host back-to-back home matches in Rounds 17 and 18—first against second-bottom Ingolstadt this Saturday, followed a week later by high-flying Eintracht Frankfurt. “A strong start is absolutely essential,” said the 21-year-old Goretzka. “If we perform well in those two games, we can carry that confidence throughout the rest of the season. We saw earlier in the year how far a good run can take us. If we can hit that level again, we’ll definitely climb the table.”
Between October and November, Schalke went on a seven-match unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga, but they lost momentum heading into the winter break. Goretzka believes the winter training camp offered the perfect opportunity to regroup and correct past mistakes. “It’s true—we’ve lost some key players,” he admitted, “but those who stepped in have done a good job. We can’t just blame injuries. Our level dropped, and we didn’t do things the way we wanted. Now, we need to regain our form, give 100 percent every game, and make ourselves hard to beat again.”
For fans looking to follow Schalke’s progress and the impact of their winter reinforcements, Crickex Login provides real-time updates, player stats, and match previews. Whether you’re tracking Goretzka’s leadership or Burgstaller’s Bundesliga debut, Crickex Login keeps you connected to every twist and turn in Schalke’s season. With renewed energy and depth, the Royal Blues are ready to turn the page.