On Tuesday morning, the rumours from the weekend were finally confirmed. FC Schalke 04 released a statement that announced Roberto di Matteo departure from the club, after a very disappointing end to the season.
Di Matteo resigned following the weekend defeat to Hamburger SV, a result that kept their opponents in the league and dropped the Royal Blues to sixth - just two points ahead of their arch rivals, Borussia Dortmund, in seventh.
The Italian had led Schalke to third place by matchday 20; a far cry from eleventh, when he took over the reigns from Jens Keller. Since then, however, things haven't gone so well. They've only managed to add another fourteen points to that total, leaving them a massive 13 points from Bayer Leverkusen in fourth.
In a statement on the club's website, differences in ideas and how to take the club forward from the current position seemed to be the major sticking point between Horst Heldt and di Matteo. He added: "A fresh start seems to be the best for everyone involved. Not least for the Schalke fans, who have grown in my heart. Therefore I came to the conclusion to resign in my position as head coach."
Along with di Matteo, his assistant coach, Attilio Lombardo, and goalkeeping coach, Massimo Battara, will also leave the club with him. Heldt finished by wishing him the very best and thanked him for his work done at the club.