A special game but same preparations

Domenico Tedesco faces his first Revierderby as the Royal Blues’ head coach. “I’m really looking forward to the game. Football lives on emotion, especially at Schalke,” says the 32-year-old ahead of the 151st competitive game between the blue and whites and the black and yellows on Saturday (25th November, KO 15:30 CET) in Dortmund. Despite all the rivalry, the most important thing is that the game is fair and square, according to the head coach.

Bundesliga

23.11.17, 12:30

Domenico Tedesco auf der PK vor dem Derby

Tedesco followed the game with interest as a child

The 32-year-old knows the importance of the fixture as he followed the game with a lot of interest as a child and teenager. “Ever since I’ve been Schalke coach, the fans have always told me how important winning the derby is to them. Every day, I can feel a relay special game coming,” explains the coach and adds: “It’s a wonderful feeling for all of us to feel the support from all the fans lifting us.”

Tedesco is not straying from his usual preparations ahead of the derby. “We’re approaching this game just as focused as we are for any other fixture,” he says. “If I said we were approaching this game any differently, that would be implying that we’re not 100% focused.”

League position to play no role

The recent form of both teams couldn’t be any more different. While the Royal Blues have secured 13 of 15 possible points in the last five league matches, BVB have scored only one point in the same period. “The current table will play no role for me. It’s all very tight,” says the coach. “The highs and lows come very quickly in football. The whole of Germany was wondering if Borussia Dortmund could be stopped just a few weeks ago.”

Despite their recent results, BVB have a very strong team with a lot of pace. Tedesco says “They have pace in every area of the pitch. We have to work hard to cover a lot of ground, while not losing our shape.”

Goretzka back at training

The coach must factor out Pablo Insua (pericardial inflammation) and Nabil Bentaleb (pelvic injury) for selection in the squad for the derby. Otherwise, all players are fit and training.

Leon Goretzka returned to training after his injury. “He participated in the whole session, but he didn’t get involved in the challenges and one-on-ones. We’ll increase his involvement in the sessions running up to the derby and we’ll see how he handles the intensity. If everything goes well, Leon is definitely a candidate for the squad,” explains the 32-year-old.

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