Schalke general manager Horst Heldt has branded the team 'a circus' after they were beaten 3-0 by Nuremberg on Saturday.
Goals from Markus Feulner, Alexander Esswein and Mike Frantz condemned Jens Keller's side to a crushing defeat which leaves them six points adrift of third-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Heldt pulled no punches in his assessment of the performance.
"We played in the first half as if we were in the circus," he told Sky Deutschland. "When you have 400 percent of chances, then you just have to score."
The loss follows a disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Galatasaray, but midfielder Jermaine Jones insists it is the attitude of the players which is to blame rather than current uncertainty surrounding interim boss Keller.
"This defeat has nothing to do with the coach. The attitude must change," he said.
"I personally wanted to take the three points. For the first 30 minutes, we should clearly have led 3-0. In the end, you will just be punished."
