Miron Muslic: We can create incredible energy together with the crowd

Sunday’s fixture will be the second of two consecutive home games for the Royal Blues. The first ended in a 1-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld last Friday (6/3), and Schalke now want to recreate that same special sense of unity with the fans in the stadium against Hannover 96. “We can create incredible energy together with the crowd – it gives us so much on the pitch,” said head coach Miron Muslic. “The fans instinctively know when they need to raise the noise levels. That helps us, and we try to repay that with our performances.”

This matchday 26 clash sees Schalke, currently top of the table, host fifth-placed Hannover, one of their closest rivals. The Royal Blues have taken 29 points from 12 home matches so far, making them the second-best home team in the division. Hannover, meanwhile, are the strongest away side in the league, having collected 25 points from 13 matches on the road. They have been in the best form of any club since the midway mark, claiming a league-high 16 points in the second half of the season. Their last outing, however, saw them surprisingly lose 2-1 at home to bottom side SpVgg Greuther Fürth.

“They are the league’s strongest away team because they know exactly how they want to play and have real belief in their approach,” Muslic noted, fully aware of the opposition’s strengths. “Hannover are a top side with so much quality, but we caused them problems in the reverse fixture and we want to do that again on Sunday.” Hannover are a possession-based team that love to knock the ball about. They have the highest pass completion rate in the league and the most possession as well. Back in October, S04 claimed a 3-0 away win in Hannover in front of more than 15,000 away fans. “They won’t change the way they play, and neither will we. We believe in our strengths, our structure and the intensity in our game.”

There are still nine games left this season and all of the teams in the leading pack still have to face one another. Looking ahead to the run-in, Muslic said he was excited for what is to come and is fully focused on each game, but also made clear that this is not dependent on the opposition. “It was no different recently against Bielefeld, Magdeburg and Kiel,” explained the 43-year-old. “That mindset has served us very well over the past few months, and we’re not going to change it now.”

Karius and Džeko both fit to play

The starting line-up, however, will change. First-choice goalkeeper Loris Karius, who missed the last three matches with a back problem, trained throughout the week and will return in goal in place of Kevin Müller, who deputised very well. Edin Džeko, who complained of back pain after a challenge in the game against Bielefeld, is also available. “Edin trained fully on Thursday and Friday and is fit to play,” Muslic confirmed.

Nikola Katic is also available again after serving his suspension and will return to the defence. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has the highest challenge success rate in the division and has also comfortably won the most aerial duels. Mertcan Ayhan had filled in for him last time out, with Muslic saying the defender has “the biggest potential in our squad.” The coach added: “Mertcan has developed really well, and that would not have been possible without Nikola. He knows his role and fulfils it almost to perfection.”