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Miron Muslic: We’re facing one of Germany’s top teams
After a three-week break from competitive action, Bundesliga football returns this weekend. FC Schalke 04 travel to SC Freiburg on Sunday (11/10) to finish off matchday 5. Kick off at the Europa-Park Stadion is at 17:30 CEST. “We’re looking forward to the challenge as we come up against a side sitting in third at the moment,” said Miron Muslic ahead of the clash with SCF, who remain unbeaten this season.
Schalke head coach Miron Muslic was keen to stress that Freiburg’s record of six wins and a draw across three competitions in recent weeks is not down to luck. “We’re facing one of Germany’s top teams. Freiburg have been outstanding. When you look closely at our opponents, you can see just how organised and well-structured they are.”
Last season’s UEFA Europa League finalists have put themselves in the spotlight with their clear patterns of play and dominant performances. The side have also been particularly prolific in front of goal so far this season. After four Bundesliga matchdays, Julian Schuster’s team have already scored 12 goals, while conceding just three.
Defensive solidity is key
Muslic explained that staying well organised defensively would be crucial against opponents of Freiburg’s quality. “That’s the foundation we need to build on,” the 44-year-old emphasised. “If we can put that into practice on the pitch, we’re difficult to play against. We also know we can raise our game going forward, and that will come.”
We’ll put a really strong starting XI out on the pitch and bring on our game changers as the match progresses.
Moussa Sylla provided a glimpse of Schalke’s attacking threat in the two friendlies played during the FIFA international break. The striker scored five goals in total, helping the Royal Blues to a 5-2 victory over Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and a 1-0 win away to Austria Lustenau. “Moussa is hungry to score his first Bundesliga goal now, too,” said Muslic.
However, the head coach was not yet ready to reveal whether Schalke’s number nine would start in Freiburg. “We have several options and different player profiles, and we have a clear plan. We’ll put a really strong starting XI out on the pitch against Freiburg, too, and bring on our game changers as the match progresses.”
Schalke’s call-ups back in Gelsenkirchen
While Sylla and some of his teammates featured in the two friendlies and worked on further aspects of their game on the training ground, nine Schalke players were away representing their respective countries. “They’ve all returned to us now and are available for the game in Freiburg,” Muslic confirmed. Mertcan Ayhan has returned with a minor shoulder injury sustained while playing for Türkiye’s U21 side in their European Championship qualifier against Hungary. However, it would not prevent him from being included in the matchday squad.
Timo Becker is also back to full fitness. The centre-back suffered a painful laceration near his ankle in the previous match against SV Elversberg but has been training fully with the team since the middle of the week. Dejan Ljubičić is making good progress following the knee injury he sustained a month ago in the 3-1 away win in Berlin and remains on schedule in his recovery. However, the midfielder is not yet an option for the trip to Freiburg.
With little time to prepare for the fixture, Muslic emphasised the importance of using the available sessions to get the team back into rhythm. The aim, he explained, is to “get back into our flow and return to our principles”. “Some players have spent more time on planes than on the pitch. But we’re not the only club that has to deal with that.”
