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Miron Muslic: Start with the same spirit and intensity
The Royal Blues are once again playing at the primetime slot of 20:30 CET this week, this time away to SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Saturday (28/2). Head coach Miron Muslic looked ahead to the challenge with full focus.
Last Saturday (21/2), Schalke came out on top in an eight-goal thriller at the VELTINS-Arena, beating 1. FC Magdeburg 5-3. For all the joy at the final whistle, attention then immediately turned to this weekend’s away game. “That same evening, I already had Fürth on my mind and was starting to focus on this match,” explained Muslic. “After now putting our bad run of form behind us, we want to continue our winning run, so we’ll give our absolute best on Saturday night to try and record our third straight victory.”
Analysing the match against Magdeburg was also part of the week’s work, and Muslic’s assessment was self-critical. “Conceding three goals was the one downside after an outstanding attacking performance. In those moments we lacked defensive stability – we’ve been clear in our analysis in this regard,” said the Schalke coach. “Even so, we’ve taken big steps with our new style of play in recent weeks: you can already see the output going forward, and you’ll soon see it again at the back too.”
Once we get that attacking flow going, we become a force that’s hard for any opponent to defend.
Muslic was referring to a change in system that the coaching team decided on some time ago in order to improve Schalke’s attacking patterns of play. “We knew it would take a few games. But once we get that attacking flow going, we become a force that’s hard for any opponent to defend,” said the 43-year-old. “We also knew that would initially come at the expense of our defensive game, but we’re continuing to work with real persistence to find the right balance.”
That will be the task again on Saturday evening in Fürth, where the bottom side host the league leaders. Muslic, however, is not reading anything into the league positions before kick-off. “Every game in this league is tight and even. That’s why we’d be wise to start with the same spirit and the same intensity as we did recently in Kiel and against Magdeburg. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves every chance of being successful.”
New coach and switch in system
Schalke were also successful in the reverse fixture. At the end of September, S04 celebrated a 1-0 home win thanks to a late goal from Finn Porath. Positive results were then few and far between for Fürth, meaning those in charge decided to change coach after the 3-0 home defeat against VfL Bochum at the end of November. Heiko Vogel replaced Thomas Klein and has picked up nine points from nine games so far, most recently taking three of them with a 2-1 home win over Arminia Bielefeld. “Fürth are clearly more solid under Heiko Vogel since switching to a back three. After the win against Bielefeld, they’ll go into Saturday night’s game against us with confidence,” said Muslic.
It is still unclear whether Loris Karius will be able to return in goal after missing out against Magdeburg, or whether Kevin Müller will start again. “We still have a bit of time until the game and we trust Loris – he knows his body best.” The goalkeeper had to sit out last weekend with back problems.
