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Karel Geraerts: We need to be more clinical
FC Schalke 04 are back in league action on Sunday (25/8) away to 1. FC Magdeburg. Kick off at the Avnet Arena will be at 13:30 CEST.
The two teams will come into this matchday 3 clash on the back of contrasting experiences in the DFB-Pokal last weekend. While the Royal Blues won 2-0 at VfR Aalen on Saturday (17/8), Magdeburg were surprisingly beaten 2-1 at fourth-tier club Kickers Offenbach two days later (19/8). The hosts are actually unbeaten in their two league games so far, playing out a goalless draw with SV Elversberg and winning 3-1 at Eintracht Braunschweig. By comparison, Schalke beat Braunschweig 5-1 on the opening matchday and most recently lost 3-1 at 1. FC Nürnberg.
Karel Geraerts has bad memories of the club’s last meeting with Magdeburg, a 3-0 defeat away from home at the end of February. “We need a complete opposite performance to that day,” reflected the 42-year-old. “We weren’t aggressive enough in the first half and conceded really soft goals. We were better after the break, but didn’t take our chances. We have to be more clinical on this occasion – a lot of things have to be better on Sunday.”
We want to help develop both of the lads.
Geraerts has been able to welcome four new players to training this week in the form of Steve Noode, Ilyes Hamache, Mauro Zalazar and Christopher Antwi-Adjei. “Mauro and Steve have already shown their quality in training, but they’ll need time,” explained the S04 head coach. “They are great prospects for the future. We want to help develop both of the lads.”
The Belgian also discussed Hamache: “Ilyes has come from the second division in France, where he played a number of games and then had a full pre-season. He’s got good attributes, including lots of pace. He could already play a role for us on Sunday.” Winger Antwi-Adjei became a Royal Blue on Friday morning: “We’ll make a late decision on whether or not he’s an option for the game.”
Seguin and Younes back in training
Geraerts will certainly have a decent number of players to choose from for the trip to Magdeburg. Paul Seguin has been back in full training, as has Amin Younes following both injury and illness. The definite absentees are Tomas Kalas, Bryan Lasme and the suspended Ron Schallenberg. “Losing him for a game and a half is pretty tough,” said the coach, referencing the midfielder’s red card just before half time in Nürnberg. “We’ll decide after the final session who will take his place.”
