Howedes upset by Schalke collapse

Schalke defender Benedikt Howedes has lamented his side’s league collapse after the 3-1 defeat by Stuttgart on Saturday.

A hat-trick from Vedad Ibisevic was enough to condemn Schalke to a fifth league game without a win, and they slipped further behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich.

Schalke, who managed to top their Champions League group ahead of Premier League side Arsenal, have also now lost their last four league games in a row, bringing a rather blunt comment from Howedes.

“We are in the process of destroying our good position in the league, that sucks,” the Germany international told Bild.

But Schalke director Horst Heldt insisted the side will assess themselves during the winter break, but first called for a win in the final round of games in 2012 next week.

“We must win the last match (against Freiburg) and reach the next round of the cup,” he said.

“And then we will see where we are and we will judge the work of the team. Stuttgart were sharper, more passionate.”

Schalke lie in fifth place in the Bundesliga, 16 points behind Bayern.