Search
Login
Please log in with your user data.
Karel Geraerts: Playing every game to win
FC Schalke 04 will take on Fortuna Düsseldorf in front of a sold-out crowd at the VELTINS-Arena for a prime-time clash on Saturday (27/4, 20:30 CEST). The visitors currently sit third in the table and are on a fine run of form, having won their past six league games in a row with an overall scoreline of 16-1. “We’re coming up against a strong opponent,” acknowledged S04 head coach Karel Geraerts.
However, the 42-year-old was defiant when asked whether he would take a draw ahead of Saturday’s clash. “I’m all about playing every game with the aim of winning. That’s my philosophy and it’ll be no different at the weekend,” stated the Belgian. Geraerts will be without Derry John Murkin for the match on Saturday. The Englishman, who was forced off after 45 minutes of last week’s draw against Elversberg, has picked up a muscle injury. Cedric Brunner is also unavailable, as the full-back continues to struggle with knee issues. “We’ve got several options who can fill in for them,” said Geraerts.
The Royal Blues’ head coach does not yet know how his side will line up against F95. Ralf Fährmann (muscle strain) and Leo Greiml (rehabilitation) will be sidelined alongside Murkin and Brunner, while Assan Ouédraogo is also a doubt. The 17-year-old has been out of action recently due to muscle problems, but has been involved in parts of this week’s training sessions. “We’ll decide whether he’ll be in the squad or not after tomorrow’s training session,” explained Geraerts. “If Assan feels 100%, he’s obviously going to be an option.”
The reverse fixture should motivate us for the upcoming challenge, since we want to play better this time!
Fortuna got the better of the Knappen in the reverse fixture earlier this season, as Schalke shipped three goals without reply in the space of half an hour. “The game in November is irrelevant now – the past is the past,” noted Geraerts. The Belgian did not fully discount the game in Düsseldorf, however – “The reverse fixture should motivate us for the upcoming challenge, since we want to play better this time!”
Home comforts for S04
Geraerts described F95 as “one of the best teams in the league, who fully deserve to be in the mix at the top of the table. Fortuna haven’t lost for a while now, and their last defeat came against Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal. Nobody’s been able to beat them in the league for weeks. They’ve got a lot of individual quality, but also work well as a team. Daniel Thioune has done some fantastic work over there.”
Geraerts emphasised that the Royal Blues will be prepared for what Düsseldorf have in store for them. “It’s important that we’re alert from the word go,” noted Schalke’s head coach. S04 have been a force to be reckoned with at home lately, having picked up 14 of a possible 18 points in their past 6 games at the VELTINS-Arena. Three more on Saturday would be just what the doctor ordered for Geraerts and his side.
