Search
Login
Please log in with your user data.
Miron Muslic: We’ll need to be fully focused
Schalke 04 will play at the VELTINS-Arena for the second time in the Bundesliga this season when they welcome SV Elversberg on Sunday (20/9, 17:30 CEST). Ahead of the meeting with their fellow promoted side, head coach Miron Muslic wants his team to show the same level of focus in their preparations as they have in recent weeks. “We started working specifically on Elversberg on Tuesday so that we can be as well prepared as possible for what awaits us.”
Just as he did ahead of the first home league game against the reigning champions from Munich, the 44-year-old is once again counting on the backing of the Schalke faithful. “We’re really looking forward to it because we’re back at home and we know the kind of energy we can create together with our fans. That will be important again on Sunday. We want everyone pulling in the same direction.”
Picking up another positive result will be no easy task against SVE, something Miron Muslic was well aware of even before their strong start to the season. “They impressed me last season and they’ve been in excellent form for months now. I like the clear identity they have under coach Vincent Wagner and the way they want to play football. Elversberg will make us work extremely hard.” SVE lost 2-1 to FC Bayern last time out, but had previously made an impressive start following promotion, taking six points from their opening two matches and scoring seven goals. A 3-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 1 was followed by a 4-3 win away at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
We believe in ourselves and we’ve built up some good momentum.
Muslic’s main focus, however, remains firmly on his own side. “We believe in ourselves and we’ve built up some good momentum. Now it’s about getting the job done before the international break. We’ll need to be fully focused, but that’s something we’ve shown we can handle very well.” The Royal Blues won both meetings between the sides last season, recording a 1-0 victory at home before winning 2-1 in Elversberg.
Ron Schallenberg and Moussa Sylla available again
Dejan Ljubičić will miss out due to the knee injury the 28-year-old suffered away at Union Berlin. “That’s a blow for us,” said Muslic. “Dejan has been one of our key players over the past ten months.” Aside from Ljubičić, however, the head coach has a full squad to choose from and plenty of options in every area of the pitch.
Ron Schallenberg is available again after serving the suspension he received following his red card in Augsburg, while Moussa Sylla returns after missing the trip to Berlin following the birth of his daughter. “They’re two fantastic options for us.” Muslic also highlighted the increased competition for places within the squad. “We’re really happy about that. The lads are pushing each other to the limit, and that makes us better.” When it comes to players who can make a difference from the bench, the head coach was also keen to stress the importance of having options throughout the 90 minutes. “It’s not just about the XI you start with, but also the players you finish a Bundesliga match with. We’ve seen that again over the past few matchdays.”
