Search
Login
Please log in with your user data.
Kees van Wonderen: Find a balance between defence and attack
It’s our head coach’s first home game in charge, it’s a sold-out VELTINS-Arena, and the team will wear a special edition shirt for the Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid). There are a lot of reasons why Kees van Wonderen is looking forward to the game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Saturday (26/10, 13:00 CEST), and it will also be an emotional one for him.
“I’ve sadly had a terrible experience with cancer within my close family,” said the head coach. In 2003, his mother died from the illness within weeks. “That’s why I think it’s important and right that the club are involved with this.”
Van Wonderen had already mentioned at his first press conference that he couldn’t wait for his first game at S04’s home stadium. “This atmosphere is something really special,” said the Dutchman, who experienced it in the stands against Hertha BSC the day before joining the club. He’s now hoping that, at the final whistle, the screens around the stadium will be announcing a home win.
Focus on the attack
The 55-year-old knows that in order for this to happen, his side will need to put in a stronger attacking performance than during their most recent 1-0 defeat against Hannover. However, he’s been left with a positive impression after what he’s seen in training this past week. “We need energy and a fighting spirit — from our defence through to our attack. Our task must be to improve a bit every day,” van Wonderen said.
The team’s training sessions have focused on attacking play in recent days. “We need to find the right balance between defending and attacking,” he said. “When I started here, the team had already conceded 19 goals in their first eight games — and it could have even been more. The opponents always had a lot of chances.” As a result, the focus at the start was on building a solid defensive foundation. “But, we don’t want to only defend. Our defensive actions are a key part of the game, but football is about scoring goals. We need to improve in attack. That can only happen if you work hard in training, which the team are doing.”
Our defensive actions are a key part of the game, but football is about scoring goals. We need to improve in attack.
The Royal Blues will be without one of their top scorers at the weekend, with Kenan Karaman (5 goals, 1 assist) serving a yellow-card suspension. “His absence obviously hurts us. But, we have a strong squad and multiple options to replace our captain,” van Wonderen said, although he did not reveal who he had earmarked as his replacement.
Other than Karaman, everyone else that was involved against Hannover is fit and able to feature. “We don’t have any new injuries. Rather, several of the lads that have recently returned from injuries were able to make significant progress during training this week. This is good news for us,” commented the head coach. In addition to Karaman, Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Adrian Gantenbein and Emil Højlund will also all miss this weekend’s match.
New head coach in Fürth
Schalke’s upcoming opponents parted ways with head coach Alexander Zorniger after last weekend’s 4-0 defeat against local rivals 1. FC Nürnberg. U23s head coach Leo Haas has taken over on an interim basis, with Fürth currently sitting in 12th place.
This change only has a minor impact on the Royal Blues’ preparations for the match, explained van Wonderen. “The most important thing is that we remain focused on our plan and the way we want to play,” he said. Nevertheless, the Schalke head coach is prepared for anything Fürth might throw their way, saying “We are ready for Saturday!”
