Schalke`s Champions League hopes gone says Roberto Di Matteo

Berlin: Roberto Di Matteo admits Schalke`s Champions League aspirations are all but gone for next season after their goalless draw at home to strugglers Freiburg on Saturday.

The result leaves the Royal Blues fifth in the German league, but ten points from a top four place, and a Champions League spot for next season, with six games left.

Schalke have reached the Champions League`s knock-out stages for the last four years, having been semi-finalists in 2011 when they lost to Manchester United.

Di Matteo`s side stunned current title holders Real Madrid with a 4-3 victory in Spain last month, but bowed out of this season`s last 16 with a 5-4 defeat on aggregate.

But Di Matteo, who steered Chelsea to the 2012 Champions League title during only eight months in charge at Stamford Bridge, says Schalke`s chances of a fifth consecutive season in European football`s top domestic tournament have gone.

"If you`re being realistic, then you have to say that it`s almost impossible with the games we have left," said Di Matteo, who took charge of Schalke last October.

"Now we have to look forward and try to play in international competition (the Europa League) next season."

Schalke are at second-placed Wolfsburg next Saturday, then face Mainz, VfB Stuttgart, Cologne, Paderborn and Hamburg in their final games before the season ends on May 23.