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Miron Muslic: KSC will demand everything from us – we need to be fully switched on for 90 minutes
To round off a busy week of fixtures, FC Schalke 04 head to Karlsruher SC on Saturday (1/11) for a 13:00 CET kick-off at the BBBank Wildpark. In order to prepare as best as possible for the game against an opposition with a strong home record, the Royal Blues have remained in Southwest Germany following their cup tie in Darmstadt, as was originally planned.
To round off a busy week of fixtures, FC Schalke 04 head to Karlsruher SC on Saturday (1/11) for a 13:00 CET kick-off at the BBBank Wildpark. In order to prepare as best as possible for the game against an opposition with a strong home record, the Royal Blues have remained in Southwest Germany following their cup tie in Darmstadt, as was originally planned.
After the heavy 4–0 defeat against the Lilies, the Knappen are looking ahead and have shifted their full focus to their 2. Bundesliga encounter with the side currently sitting seventh in the table. “Of course we’ve analysed the match. It was a very productive discussion, without anyone raising their voice,” said Miron Muslic.
“We know that we have a clear playing philosophy, one that’s characterised by intensity and plenty of running. On Wednesday, we just didn’t manage to get up to 100%,” said Schalke’s head coach. “A team like Darmstadt have the quality to punish you for that. That’s why we deserved to exit the cup.” Muslic praised the way his team have developed over recent weeks and months. “Sometimes a small setback can be crucial in helping you grow, though.”
Sometimes a small setback can be crucial in helping you grow.
Those difficult 90 minutes are part of the ongoing learning process, he explained. “In Karlsruhe we have the opportunity to put things right.” The hosts were likewise knocked out of the DFB-Pokal during the week, losing 3-1 on Tuesday (28/10) away to Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Vitalie Becker returns to face Karlsruhe
Against KSC, Muslic can once again draw on the squad that was available for the Darmstadt match, although with a notable addition from the cup clash. “We’ve got a few players unavailable at the moment, which makes things difficult for us,” said the 43-year-old. Currently, Schalke are without Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Timo Becker, Christian Gomis, Emil Højlund, Tomas Kalas, Bryan Lasme and Zaid Tchibara. Muslic said: “We’ve never complained about it, and we aren’t going to start now. It’s all about finding the right solutions.” A positive update: Vitalie Becker, who was rested for the DFB-Pokal tie in order to manage his workload, will be available again in Karlsruhe.
The head coach is yet to make a final decision regarding this weekend’s starting XI, explaining that “we’ve got one or two options in attack that we’re keeping open.” He did confirm that Peter Remmert, who made his comeback as a substitute in Darmstadt after two and a half months out injured, is not yet ready to start for the Royal Blues. “Peter isn’t in the rhythm to be starting just yet,” said Muslic. “But using him as an impact sub is definitely a possibility.”
Schalke’s coach holds the upcoming opponents in high regard: “KSC are another top side awaiting us – they’ve got clear patterns of play and a clear structure.” Head coach Christian Eichner‘s side have won four of their five home games so far this season, with their only defeat coming against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Matchday 9, when they conceded the decisive goal in added time of the derby match. Muslic concluded: “We’ve studied KSC in detail. They’re a team that will demand everything from us – so we need to be fully switched on for the 90 minutes!”
