Frank Kramer: Energy, passion and a clear plan

Bundesliga football is finally back at the VELTINS-Arena! 455 days after FC Schalke 04’s last home game in the top flight, the Royal Blues will host Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (13/8) at 18:30 CEST in front of a sold-out stadium. “We’re really excited. The atmosphere will be very special,” said Frank Kramer. “5,000 Schalke fans were in the ground in Cologne and got behind us, now we’ll have 60,000 of them.”

Bundesliga

11.08.22, 13:41

Frank Kramer

The Schalke head coach described the support of the fans as “amazing” and explained that it helps give the players a boost on the pitch. “We need this togetherness. It pushes us on,” said the 50-year-old. His aim for Saturday’s game against the Foals is clear: “We want to win the game, even if we know we’re playing a tough opponent. We will need energy, passion and a clear plan if we are to be successful against Mönchengladbach.”

5,000 Schalke fans were in the ground in Cologne and got behind us, now we’ll have 60,000 of them.

Frank Kramer

Gladbach started the new league campaign with a 3-1 home win over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, who had a man sent off early in the first half, just like Schalke who played with ten men for 65 minutes and were on the wrong end of some controversial decisions against Köln. Kramer, meanwhile, has put that 3-1 defeat behind him. “We are looking ahead now,” stressed the boss.

The coach explained that he wants his team to be brave at the VELTINS-Arena on Saturday. “We have to use the space given to us and get our shots away,” demanded Kramer. He described Gladbach as a side that like to have possession and a team full of a number of technically gifted players, who look like to build up the play in the centre of the park. “We have to be on our toes. Things are different with 11 men – you have more chances and opportunities.”

Competition for places in all positions

Dominick Drexler, who has been given a two-match ban following his red card against Köln, will therefore be unavailable for Saturday and next week’s game in Wolfsburg. Aside from the midfielder, Kramer has a full squad available to him, though he wouldn’t reveal his starting XI yet. “I don’t want to give everything away,” stated the 50-year-old, who believes there is real competition for places in his squad. “That’s what you want. Everybody wants to play and that makes training and us all better.”

Simon Terodde is a candidate for the starting XI after only coming on for the final few minutes in Köln having not trained fully last week. Kramer reported that last season’s top goalscorer is fully fit now. He also has other options up front in new signing Jordan Larsson and Marius Bülter, who came off the bench to score last time out. “We’ve got four different types of strikers in Simon Terodde, Sebastian Polter, Marius Bülter and Jordan Larsson,” commented Kramer.

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