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Miron Muslic: There’s togetherness and real determination in this group
FC Schalke 04 host Preußen Münster at a sold-out VELTINS-Arena on Sunday (19/4) at 13:30 CEST. The fact that the current league leaders are facing the side currently bottom of the table is playing no part in Miron Muslic’s preparations. “We’re not going to change what’s brought us to this point. We need to play well in every game – regardless of who our opponents are,” said the Royal Blues’ head coach.
He continued: “We’re focused and going about things with real enjoyment every day. The balance between focus and enthusiasm is spot on. There’s togetherness and real determination in this group.” That is why the coach says he can hardly wait for kick-off in front of the home crowd.
Muslic and his coaching team have spent the past few days working in detail on the task ahead against Münster. The reverse fixture – a goalless draw at the LVM-Preußenstadion on 22nd November 2025 – no longer carries much weight, though, with last season’s promoted side having changed head coach a few weeks ago.
We need to play well in every game – regardless of who our opponents are.
In Alois Schwartz, whose CV includes more than 200 matches on the touchline in Germany’s second division with Kaiserslautern, Sandhausen, Nürnberg, Karlsruhe and Rostock, Münster have turned to an experienced 2. Bundesliga coach and former top-flight player. He replaced Michael Ende, who shortly after leaving Münster took over at Fortuna Düsseldorf, another side involved in the battle to stay up.
Back-to-back goalless draws for Münster
Schwartz is unbeaten after his first two games in charge of SCP, drawing 0-0 away to Kiel and 0-0 at home to Greuther Fürth. “Since the new head coach came in, Münster have looked more solid out of possession. They’re no longer playing with a 4-4-2 diamond and are now set up in a very compact 5-3-2, looking to hit teams on the counter. Defensively, they’ve been outstanding in recent games,” Muslic praised. Münster have won the most duels in the whole league this season, though Schalke aren’t too far behind them in this ranking. It’s therefore set to be a physical battle on Sunday.
What SCP have lacked of late, however, are wins. Schwartz is yet to see his side score since taking charge, despite those two unbeaten outings. “We’re up against a team that badly need a positive result in their current predicament,” said Schalke’s head coach. Münster are just two points adrift of safety going into matchday 30. Last season, Preußen Münster managed to beat the drop thanks to a strong finish under interim coach Christian Pander, taking seven points from their final three matches.
That is why Muslic does not expect the visitors to spend the entire game camped in their own half. “They won’t be able to sit deep for 90 minutes,” he explained. Even so, he is anticipating a game that will require patience. “That will be nothing new for us – it was similar against Karlsruhe two weeks ago. We don’t need to force anything. The important thing is to stick to our principles. If we do that, we’ll be very difficult to stop.”
Schalke’s head coach has Kenan Karaman and Mertcan Ayhan available again. The pair both missed the trip to Elversberg through suspension after accumulating five yellow cards. “Kenan will lead us out against Münster as captain,” revealed the 43-year-old. The attacker had trained individually for a few days recently because of a muscular issue, but is now fully fit again.
