Schalke players told to forget excuses

Furious coach Ralf Rangnick has put the blame for Schalke 04's poor run of form squarely on the shoulders of the players.

"I couldn't have imagined that they could play so badly," Rangnick said after Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Nuremberg - a fourth match without a win in the Bundesliga.

"The time has come to forget the excuses. We must demand more from the players, who really must do their duty now."

Schalke's fourth successive draw left them eight points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich with just six games played.

They at least remain unbeaten domestically but their Champions League hopes took a big knock with last week's defeat away to PSV Eindhoven.

Rangnick, who has received assurances from club manager Rudi Assauer that his job is not under threat, is demanding an improvement in the next two games, at home to Hanover 96 in the Bundesliga tomorrow and to Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.

"The players are miles away from their best form and that can't continue," Rangnick said.

"They have to look at themselves and ask why that is."