Relegation battles dramatic in Bundesliga last round

By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Relegation battles in the German Bundesliga have delivered dramatic episodes over the past decades.

The 2020/2021 season seems no exception, with three clubs trying to escape a painful downfall in the last round this weekend.

After FC Schalke 04 has already lost the race as the tableau's last, the league's 17th has to follow downward trend while the 16th can hope for rescue in two qualification playoffs against the third of the second division.

Fans remember 1990 world champion Andreas Brehme (1996) flooded in tears after his club, the FC Kaiserslautern narrowly lost the race by a single goal in an away game.

TV pictures showed hundreds of fans weeping bitterly on the streets of Kaiserslautern.

Things usually change within minutes.

This time it's either do or die for the 1. FC Cologne (30 points/33-60 goals), Werder Bremen (31/34-53) and league newcomer Arminia Bielefeld (32/24-52).

Relegation means losing jobs for regular employees in the clubs' administration and a significant cut in income such as TV money. Being relegated in the case of Cologne means reducing the budget of 52 million to 26 million euros.

TV money losses mount up to at least 20 million euros. Bottom side Schalke faces a loss of 32 million in TV money in the second-tier league.

While many professional footballers might join other clubs, fans and employees end up suffering most.

Coaches and players speak of enormous emotional tension in advance of the decisive encounter.

Bremen fired its coach Florian Kohfeldt ahead of the duel against Moenchengladbach on home soil. Former coach Thomas Schaaf (1999-2013), took over the delicate job.

To appoint Schaaf appears like a desperate wake-up call trying to trigger additional motivation. Schaaf won the 2004 double and the German Cup in 2009 and is seen as one of the club's icons.

Cologne is facing Schalke at home, while Bielefeld is ahead of an away game in Stuttgart. A few weeks ago, Cologne sacked its coach Markus Gisdol and appointed retired but experienced Friedhelm Funkel (67) for its journey on the final meters.

"You need to develop more desire to win than you feel fear to lose," said Bielefeld striker Fabian Klos.

The successful transition of tension into positive energy is the key, he is convinced. It is more than a bold guess that "heavy legs" and a "blocked mind" won't help to do the job.

While Bielefeld (7) and Cologne (6) seem experienced, "down-climbers" is Bremen facing its second relegation in the club's history after 1980.

Bremen's current sporting director Frank Baumann talked about "his darkest career moment" when he missed the last chance to score 21 years ago.

Considering the relegation participants' financial situation, Bielefeld seems in steady waters while Bremen and Cologne face an uncertain future. Enditem