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Kees van Wonderen: Every single player has to give it 100%
FC Schalke 04 will be back in league action away at SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Sunday (30/3, 13:30 CEST), as they get the final quarter of the season underway. "We still have eight games left to play and we want to perform to the best of our abilities in each of these games, as well as picking up points in order to climb up the table," said head coach Kees van Wonderen.
In order to do so, the Dutchman is expecting that “Every single player gives it 100%, so that we’re able to witness a positive development on the pitch. Every game has to come with our best possible performance, so that we may be successful. The results in the second division prove each weekend that everyone is capable of beating anyone.”
Max Grüger (Germany U20) was the only Royal Blue away on international duty last week, as the rest of the Schalke team sought to rest and recharge ahead of the business end of the season.
We still have eight games left to play and we want to perform to the best of our abilities in each of these games.
The Royal Blues sought to continue refining their moves out on the pitch during training over the last week. The 56-year-old was able to draw positive conclusions from the sessions, as well as from the 1-0 friendly win against FC Groningen in midweek. The match was an opportunity to provide playing time to those Royal Blues that hadn’t been able to feature much in recent weeks, or at all. Additionally, several players from the S04 academy were also able to feature in the second half. “All of the lads that played did a great job,” van Wonderen praised.
Positive development from earlier this season
It was a stark contrast to the meeting earlier this season against SpVgg Greuther Fürth, which ended in a 4-3 win for Fürth. “We weren’t well-organised, made too many mistakes and were a man down for nearly an entire half after an early second yellow just after half-time,” van Wonderen said about what was his first home game in charge of the side. “Nevertheless, we managed to fight our way back into the game late on.”
Since then, the team have undergone a positive development according to the head coach. “This development isn’t finished yet either,” he added. “We’re still not where we want to be yet. It’s a steady process.” The Royal Blues now want to prove that they are progressing in a positive direction when they come up against SGF this weekend. The team’s final preparations ahead of the game will take place at the adidas Home Ground in Herzogenaurach on Friday (28/3). The training ground is located less than a 30-minute drive from the Sportpark Ronhof, with both adidas and 11teamsports serving as FC Schalke 04’s official suppliers.
Sylla returns to the squad, Kaminski suspended
Van Wonderen will still have to wait and see which players he will have available this weekend. Taylan Bulut, who missed both the game against Hannover 96 and the Germany U19 games during the international break due to illness, remains a doubt for this weekend. Janik Bachmann was taken off at half-time with neck problems during the last league match, but has been back in full team training for several days now.
Emil Højlund and Moussa Sylla were also able to return to team training in recent days. “Both are making good progress following their injuries,” van Wonderen shared. “Moussa is a little bit futher along and will be part of the matchday squad in Fürth again. It’s still a little too early for Emil to return.”
The Royal Blues will be without Marcin Kaminski this weekend, with the centre-back suspended following his fifth yellow card of the season. Van Wonderen is still yet to make a decision on which centre-backs will play this weekend. “We have several options and are waiting until after our final training sessions,” he shared. In addition to Kaminski, Ilyes Hamache (rehab following Achilles injury), Zaid Tchibara (rehab following ACL tear) and Aris Bayindir (thigh) are also also sidelined.
