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Kees van Wonderen: We are working to rediscover our rhythm
The Royal Blues host SC Preußen Münster at the VELTINS-Arena on Friday night at 18:30 CET (28/2). Kees van Wonderen shared his thoughts ahead of Preußen’s first game away to Schalke in 35 years.
The previous first team home match against Münster was played at the Parkstadion way back in September 1990, when S04 defeated Preußen 3-1, then also in the second division. The two teams are set to face off at the VELTINS-Arena for the first time. However, the visitors did already feature at the new ground in Gelsenkirchen two years ago, when Münster celebrated a 3-1 victory away to the Royal Blues’ U23 side in a fourth-division meeting.
Preußen’s Bundesliga 2 target is purely that of survival. The promoted side occupy 15th spot in the table at this moment in time, sitting just above the dotted line on 23 points, four behind the Knappen. “Münster’s strengths are clear to see. They go hard into the tackle, win many duels in the air and always give a good showing against tough opponents,” explained Royal Blues’ head coach Kees van Wonderen. Münster are one of the best sides in the division when it comes to using their head, quite literally, since Lukas Frenkert has won the most aerial duels in the league.
Everyone here knows how tough the task is each week.
Preußen adopt a very physical and combative style of play, committing the second-highest number of fouls in the league behind Hannover 96. That has led to them receiving the most yellow cards of any second-tier side. Van Wonderen is fully aware of the fact that Preußen Münster have made life difficult for several teams already this season. The head coach specifically mentioned their 2-1 win away to Hertha BSC on top of the narrow 2-1 defeats against both 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Hamburger SV during the past month. Preußen also emerged victorious from their relegation six-pointer with SSV Jahn Regensburg last weekend, winning 2-0.
Kees van Wonderen does not want to place too much focus on the upcoming opponents, however, who Schalke have already defeated this season following a 2-1 away win in the reverse fixture. “It’s more important that we focus on ourselves in order to give a good performance and therefore ensure the points stay in Gelsenkirchen.” After falling to a 2-0 loss away to SV Darmstadt 98 last time out, both the coaching staff and the team are hoping to return to winning ways in order to get back on track in terms of achieving their aim for the season. “Everyone here knows how tough the task is each week, so we want to reach 40 points as soon as possible. I am seeing a team that is both ambitious and driven in each training session. We are working to rediscover our rhythm,” reported the Dutchman.
No fewer than seven players out
However, the Knappen currently possess a long list of absentees with Tobias Mohr, Ilyes Hamache, Zaid Tchibara and Emil Højlund all still missing in attack, alongside Moussa Sylla, who scored twice to hand Schalke victory in the reverse fixture. It will be decided shortly before the game whether captain Kenan Karaman can play following recent illness. Max Grüger (suspended) and Ron Schallenberg (calf injury) will also be unavailable. Loris Karius, who joined the Royal Blues at the start of the year, is set to make his first appearance in goal. “We’re convinced that he will be able to use his experience and skill to help the team,” explained van Wonderen regarding the upcoming change between the sticks.
