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Kees van Wonderen: We’ve shown on several occasions that we can go toe-to-toe with the best teams
This weekend, FC Schalke 04 will play away against a team top of the table for the third time already this season. Having previously won away at SC Paderborn and SV Elversberg before the winter break, the Royal Blues face 1. FC Köln at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Sunday (9/2) at 13:30 CET.
Kees van Wonderen is looking forward to taking on Köln, who, after being relegated from the Bundesliga last season, are now top of the second division, two points ahead of Hamburger SV. “We know how difficult this game will be, but we’ve shown on several occasions this season that we can go toe-to-toe with the best teams,” said the head coach.
The Dutchman stressed that his team need to be confident ahead of the trip to Cologne. “We have belief in our own ability. We will head there full of positivity and want to take something from the game.” This attitude helped the Knappen record a 4-2 victory in Paderborn and a 4-1 win in Elversberg in December, their other two away games against league leaders in 2024/25.
We’re on the right track, even if we’ve not reached our full potential yet.
The 5-2 loss to 1. FC Magdeburg last time out – S04’s first defeat in five league games – was analysed and discussed in the days afterwards. “Magdeburg showed us where we need to improve. I know that we won’t win every game, but we’re on the right track, even if we’ve not reached our full potential yet,” explained van Wonderen.
Van Wonderen is looking for his side to take another step in the right direction this weekend. Effzeh, who lost 3-2 in extra time away at defending champions Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday (5/2), are one of the league’s strongest teams, according to Schalke’s head coach. “Köln are top for a reason. They are a well-organised team, physically strong and dangerous in transition. They have a lot of depth in their squad too,” he praised.
Seguin suspended
Although van Wonderen also has a number of options in his squad, he will be without midfielder Paul Seguin on Sunday. The 29-year-old picked up his fifth yellow card of the season last time out against 1. FC Magdeburg and is therefore banned. “Paul is an important player, but we’ve shown already this season that we can cope without him. He didn’t play in Elversberg, for example.”
Van Wonderen has several ideas of how to replace S04’s number 7 on Sunday, though he’s not looking to make a drastic change to the team’s overall tactical approach. He did say that there could be a few minor tactical alterations, but wouldn’t reveal too much before the game. “A few of our players have minor issues and we’ll have to see if they’re fit in time. I’m confident that we’ll have a big squad to choose from for Sunday though,” said the 56-year-old. Emil Højlund (rehabilitative training after a thigh injury) and Mauro Zalazar (at the South American U-20 Championship with Uruguay) are also unavailable.
Aymen Barkok, who joined on deadline day from 1. FSV Mainz 05, could be in the squad for the first time. Van Wonderen spoke about his new midfielder: “He has the quality to improve us. We’re pleased that Aymen is now with us here. He will need a little bit of time to get back to full fitness as he was suffering from a cold recently. Aymen also has to fully learn our patterns of play.”
