Huntelaar sympathises with Schalke boo-boys

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar says he knows the Schalke fans are unhappy after they whistled the team in a 1-1 draw with Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Schalke needed a late Julian Draxler strike to salvage a point at home to Gladbach, and they have now gone four league matches without recording a victory, leaving them 13 points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

Netherlands international Huntelaar claimed he did not hear the booing from the stands, but acknowledged the supporters have every reason to be restless.

“I have not heard the whistles. But it is clear that people are not satisfied with how we’ve played,” he was quoted as saying by Bild.

“When I’m on the pitch, it does not faze me. But clearly, we are not playing well.”

Schalke coach Huub Stevens was a little less forgiving toward the supporters, instead praising his side for keeping their spirits up.

“Compliments to the team for the morale,” he said.

“No compliment to a small portion of our fans. We wanted for (goalkeeper) Timo (Hildebrand) to have more peace in the stadium.

“But unfortunately we did not succeed. It has not annoyed me much in the last few years, but today it did.”

Schalke sit fourth in the Bundesliga, and travel to Montpellier in the Champions League on Tuesday.