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Jakob Fimpel: Important that the lads have a lot of energy
FC Schalke 04 play away against Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday (10/5) at 13:00 CEST. Jakob Fimpel will be in charge of the Royal Blues at the Merkur Spiel-Arena and he has a clear aim for the game: “We are heading there to win the match.”
Fimpel, the head coach of Schalke’s U23s, has taken over first-team duties following the departure of Kees van Wonderen for the trip to Düsseldorf and the matchday 34 home game against SV Elversberg. He stressed that his team will not be playing for just a point, even though that is enough to guarantee safety. “You can’t go into a game just aiming to draw it. We want all three points – just as Düsseldorf will.”
Fortuna Düsseldorf are currently in sixth place and are just two points off the relegation play-off position, where they ended last season. “I’m expecting an open game, neither side will want to give the other one an opportunity to win,” said Fimpel. The fact that Schalke could officially avoid relegation before they play on Saturday – if Preußen Münster win against Hertha BSC on Friday night – isn’t too important for Fimpel. “We will obviously have one eye on Friday’s game, but we want to get the result we need ourselves.”
Positive experiences together earlier this season
Fimpel also took charge of two games earlier this season, earning four points from a trip to Münster (2-1 win) and a home game against Hertha (2-2 draw), which he felt helped him as he returned to the first-team fold. “We were able to get right to work at the start of the week because there were no barriers. I know the team and they know me, so we didn’t need any time to adjust and just started training straight away.”
Fimpel has been pleased with the training sessions so far this week. “I am full of energy and it was important to me that the lads also have lots of energy out on the pitch. We have trained at a high intensity and the lads have provided plenty of energy, which gives me a good feeling.”
You can’t go into a game just aiming to draw it. We want all three points.
Fimpel is also feeling good about his U23 side, who he has left in the hands of Tomasz Waldoch, Willi Landgraf, Martin Max, Christian Wetklo and Markus Zetlmeisl. “That coaching team is a great setup and means I can solely concentrate on the first team.” Schalke’s reserves also play Fortuna Düsseldorf’s U23s on Saturday (10/5) – kick-off at the Parkstadion is at 14:00 CEST.
Part of Fimpel’s work this week has been to analyse Saturday’s opponents. “Fortuna play good football and have a number of good players in their side. They use the middle of the park a lot and can mix things up in possession. We need to try and control the game and have a good defensive plan,” he stated. “When we have the ball, we need to make them work to get it back.”
Duo out injured, Ayhan to make the squad
Fimpel hasn’t made a final decision on his matchday squad and will use the final two training sessions to help him do so. “I will select the players that I feel are most suited to playing a team like Düsseldorf,” he explained.
Kenan Karaman is available again after serving a two-match ban for his red card against Hamburger SV. Derry John Murkin will also return after missing the SC Paderborn 07 match due to a yellow-card suspension.
The Knappen will definitely be without Tomas Kalas and Janik Bachmann, who have both picked up a knock in training this week. Mertcan Ayhan will be in the squad in Düsseldorf to compensate for their absence. The captain of Schalke’s U19s can play at centre-half or as a defensive midfielder.
