Search
Login
Please log in with your user data.
Karel Geraerts: We need to play with the same quality and confidence
FC Schalke 04 will be aiming to win their fourth home match on the spin when they face off against SC Paderborn 07 at the VELTINS-Arena on Saturday (9/3, 13:00 CET). Karel Geraerts stressed that a win against SCP isn’t a foregone conclusion after last weekend’s impressive 3-1 win over FC St. Pauli. “We’ve got to stay grounded and play with the same quality and confidence as we did last time round,” said S04’s head coach.
Looking back on the game against the league leaders, the Belgian noted that the Royal Blues’ gameplan worked out very well. Geraerts went on to say that he has a few ideas in mind ahead of his side’s clash against Paderborn, “but I’m not going to give anything away”.
Schalke face a tough game against SCP, as Lukas Kwasniok’s team are currently the most in-form side in the league, having picked up 20 points from their last ten matches. Paderborn also sit sixth in the league table on 38 points. “We’re coming up against a strong team, who’ve had a good season and keep things tight,” said Geraerts.
The team have trained with enthusiasm and commitment.
Geraerts was full of praise for his team when asked about this week’s training, remarking that, just like last week, they’ve worked very hard. “The team have trained with enthusiasm and commitment,” stated the 42-year-old. “The intensity has been high, as has the quality on show.” Geraerts pointed out that the Royal Blues will now have to show exactly this on Saturday.
Ouédraogo back in contention for the squad
S04’s head coach has almost a full complement of players at his disposal ahead of the encounter with Paderborn. Dominick Drexler is a doubt for the match, as the midfielder has missed the last three days of training due to illness. Leo Greiml will not be involved at the weekend, since he has not fully recovered from his cruciate ligament injury just yet. “We’ve exercised a bit more caution this week,” reported Geraerts. Geraerts added that, if everything goes according to plan, the Austrian will return to full training in the next few days and be gradually reintegrated back into the side after a long spell on the sidelines.
Geraerts and his coaching staff will make a decision about Assan Ouédraogo’s involvement after Friday’s training session. Ouédraogo, who tore a syndesmosis ligament in his foot while at the U17 World Cup with Germany in November, made his comeback to competitive action last weekend. The 17-year-old played 45 minutes of the game against 1. FC Köln II.
