FC Schalke 04 has immediately moved four senior players to the U23 squad – a bold move that raises the risk for staying up. The decision by sports director Frank Baumann, coach Miron Muslic and sporting director Youri Mulder involves Thomas Kalas, Martin Wasinski, Steve Noode and Mauro Zalazar, who now train in the Regionalliga West.

Why the demotion?

The Knappen currently sit at the top of the table: 1st in the 2. Bundesliga with 70 points, 21 wins, 7 draws and 6 losses. The team’s recent form over the last five games is three wins and two defeats (WWLLW) and they are on a two‑game winning streak. Officials want to sharpen the focus on survival and therefore decided to remove players without a clear role in the squad. Historically, such moves have rarely gone unnoticed – during the chaotic relegation years, players like Nabil Bentaleb, Dominick Drexler, Timo Baumgartl and Ralf Fährmann were also excluded from the first team.

What does this mean for the players?

Thomas Kalas, 22, and Martin Wasinski, 20, are considered promising talents, yet without a contract outlook they now train with the second team. Steve Noode, 24, and Mauro Zalazar, 23, face the same uncertainty. The demotion limits their visibility to potential new clubs and could stall their market‑value growth. At the same time, Schalke sends a clear message to the transfer market: the club is willing to cut ties with unwanted contracts, even if the process takes time.

How does this affect the survival battle?

Schalke must protect an eight‑point lead over SV Elversberg. The side has already scored 50 goals and conceded 31, a +19 goal difference. The recent 1‑0 win over Eintracht Braunschweig on 17 May 2026 shows the attack is still potent. Yet trimming the squad could hurt morale and stir unrest, especially as league rivals stay strong. Coach Muslic stresses that concentrating on the core group is essential to fend off the chase from promotion‑hungry teams.

What’s next?

The four demoted players remain with the U23 until a new contract is found, while Schalke uses upcoming friendlies to fine‑tune the first‑team lineup. The DFB‑Cup tie against Hallescher FC is next, followed by league matches versus Augsburg, Bayern Munich, Union Berlin and SV Elversberg. Observers will watch closely to see if the gamble pays off – a stable squad could lock in the lead, while internal friction might give rivals a chance to close the gap.