Karel Geraerts on this week’s training sessions, the pre-season tournament in Meppen and ticket sales

For Karel Geraerts, however, there were two more important takeaways from the pre-season tournament. The Schalke players managed to avoid picking up any injuries ahead of next week’s training camp in Mittersill, and the majority of the squad got some game time. Just like in the first friendly of the season – a 7-0 triumph over SSVg Velbert – 22 of the Royal Blues were in action for 45 minutes each.

“For me, it was important to give as many players as possible 45 minutes of game time,” explained the Belgian. “The boys have worked hard in training this week. I’m happy that nobody got injured.” Geraerts will be hoping to see more of the same from his side at their pre-season training camp in Mittersill, which gets underway on Monday (8/7).

Geraerts explained that he’s looking forward to the Royal Blues’ stay in Hohe Tauern. The 42-year-old is feeling just as highly motivated as his players and emphasised that the start of the season can’t come soon enough, which is partly down to the sense of excitement amongst the Schalke fans. The tickets for S04’s home games before the winter break sold out within a very short space of time when they were released earlier this week. “That doesn’t happen at any other club,” said Geraerts. “It’s unbelievable, it’s amazing. It makes us feel really, really proud.”