Domenico Tedesco: Hungry for success

“Four consecutive defeats isn’t exactly how we hoped to start the season,” said the 33 year-old coach. “However, the situation is what it is and we have accepted it. The team is very focused and hungry for success.” To get back on track, it is important for S04 not to fall behind to Freiburg on Tuesday, which they have done in every Bundesliga game so far this season. “We want to experience positive feelings again.”

Positive signs shown

The coach explained that his he has seen improvements in his side’s performances since the disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Hertha BSC on matchday two. “At times against Bayern München we played well and we deserved to win against Porto in the Champions League. Overall, the players have shown me positive signs of improvement.”

The substitution of Franco Di Santo in the Bayern game led to a verbal confrontation on the sideline, but it doesn’t appear to have affected team spirit or cohesion. “We clearly spoke about the issue at training on Sunday and Franco apologised to the whole team for his misconduct during the match. I fully accepted that apology,” said Tedesco.

McKennie out with injury, Stambouli close to a comeback

The Royal-Blues head coach left the question open for whether Di Santo will feature on Tuesday night in Freiburg. “I am preparing for the Freiburg match like any other game and I will not change my preparations due to this incident. Doing this would potentially give Freiburg an advantage ahead of the match,” said Tedesco.

S04 will travel to Freiburg without Weston McKennie, as the American suffered a severe muscle bruise with bleeding on his lower left leg after a foul from Bayern’s James Rodriguez. He joins Steven Skrzybski (muscle injury), Bastian Oczipka and Benjamin Stambouli on Schalke’s injury list although the latter two are both regaining fitness. Stambouli, who has been out with an ankle sprain, is hoping to return to partial team training in the first week of October.