Yahoo News Steven Schumacher makes 'bare minimum' demand after saving Stoke City's 'gang of individuals'
Steven Schumacher says it isn't enough for himself or Stoke City just to survive in the Championship after three victories to end the season secured their status in the division.
Friends were congratulating Schumacher for reaching the 50-point barrier a fortnight ago but in the end Birmingham have been relegated with that many on the board. Stoke reached 56 thanks to strong performances and victories in the last month, capped by a final day 4-0 whipping of Bristol City.
Schumacher said: "It shows how strong the league is. Everyone said beforehand that the three teams coming down, the three coming up were all strong teams. Argyle are safe, Sheffield Wednesday are safe and Ipswich are in the Premier League so it shows how strong the teams coming up were.
REACTION: Stoke City 4 Bristol City 0
"It's been a hard season but we've just about done enough in the end. We didn't want it to go to the last day, which it didn't. We've done enough but that isn't what this club is striving for and it certainly isn't what I'm here for."
Goals from Luke Cundle and Tyrese Campbell and a brace from Million Manhoef helped Stoke to a thumping victory over Bristol City to climb up to 17th in the final standings.
The starting XI has stayed the same in the last three matches and featured four loan players plus three more out of contract. There will be a lot of big decisions to be made right from the start of another busy summer.
Stoke's form since dropping into the bottom three in late February has seen them collect 21 points in 12 matches, which would easily be play-off standard if they could stretch it over a full campaign.
Schumacher said: "It's not easy to play like that for 46 games, everyone knows that. But that should be the bare minimum, that you work hard and the team has definitely worked hard in the last 12 games I would say. They've looked like a team and not a gang of individuals and we got the results we needed. That's positive and something to build on."
