Fighting spirit required: FCM against Schalke – coach Fiedler’s turnaround!
1. FC Magdeburg will face Schalke 04 on September 19th, 2025. Coach Fiedler calls for the fight against individual mistakes and a difficult start to the season.

Fighting spirit required: FCM against Schalke – coach Fiedler’s turnaround!
Next Saturday at 1 p.m. 1. FC Magdeburg will take on Schalke 04 in a sold-out stadium with 27,000 fans. After an unsuccessful start to the season with just one win and four defeats, the team under the leadership of coach Markus Fiedler is facing increasing pressure. This is particularly clear as the FCM is in a relegation zone for the first time since February 2023. Loud Picture The weak defense plays a crucial role, because after five games the Magdeburgers have already conceded twelve goals.
Fiedler is looking for ways to reduce the individual error rate in the team and improve defensive work. A lack of well-rehearsed processes, due to a major upheaval in the summer, is causing additional difficulties. Injury-related absences of top performers such as Daniel Heber, who cannot train due to knee problems, also contribute to the uncertainty. Sports show reports that Herbert Bockhorn, Tarek Chahed and Mateusz Zukowski will also not be available, making the situation even more complicated.
The tactical orientation
Fiedler highlights the importance of one-on-one behavior, especially against a mature opponent like Schalke 04, who have already collected 9 points this season. “The team has to perform more stably in order to collect urgently needed points,” emphasizes Fiedler and sees Schalke as “exactly the right opponent at the right time”. The record of both teams in the German lower house speaks for itself: the FCM won twice in four duels, there was a draw once and a defeat once. The requirement is clear: fighting spirit and a unified team effort are required to get out of the current crisis.
The question on the minds of the coach and the fans is whether this game can be turned around. A large part of the team has not yet found its feet, and some players still have to get used to the requirements. A new team chemistry is developing, but this urgently requires an increase in performance. Fiedler's clear message to his team is: "We have to work for luck in the game."
Change of coach: An often discussed topic
In the world of football, the question of the stability of the coaching position is more important than ever. Loud BR Coach changes are often carried out in connection with disappointing performances. Studies show that dissatisfaction with the coach can often lead to an immediate increase in performance. The Bundesliga has the highest coaching change rate, while teams like Heidenheim and Freiburg stick with their coaches for years. This raises questions about how important consistency in the dugout really is in an environment driven by performance and pressure.
For Fiedler and the FCM it is now about not only stabilizing the defense, but also strengthening trust. The upcoming encounter against Schalke could not only be decisive for the table position, but also influence the mental well-being of the entire team. The fans are excited and hope for a turning point that can have a lasting, positive change in both the performances and the mood in the club.