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Miron Muslic: Pressure can give rise to the most stable and valuable things
The Royal Blues will round off matchday 9 in the Bundesliga away at TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday evening (8/11, 19:30 CET). Ahead of the match, head coach Miron Muslic said, "It will be a tough challenge for us, but we will face it together and as one."
The head coach was able to start his pre-match press conference by sharing some good news: both Soufiane El-Faouzi and Robin Gosens will travel to Sinsheim with the team, after suffering injuries following a collision in the away game against 1. FC Köln (24/10). “They both trained with the team all week and have been given the green light from our medical staff,” Muslic said. “Both will be able to help us and will give it their all.”
Gosens had his stitches removed on Friday from the two head wounds he suffered in the collision. El-Faouzi is set to wear a custom-fitted protective face mask after suffering a broken nose.
Muslic expecting a physical game
Muslic was able to watch TSG play on Thursday night, as they drew 1-1 away against Premier League outfit Crystal Palace in the league phase of the Europa League. “Hoffenheim put in a very dominant performance against the reigning Conference League champions, which goes to show just how strong they are,” said the 44-year-old.
Muslic also highlighted TSG’s physicality, which only FC Bayern München and RB Leipzig have been able to match in the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim have contested the most challenges of any side in the division this term and have covered the second-most ground of any side in the league, behind FC Bayern. They are also extremely strong when pressing their opponents.
Schalke will be heading to Sinsheim with the intention of putting in an improved performance in their opponent’s half. The switch to a back-four is meant to help bring in more security on the ball, with glimpses of this evident in last weekend’s home game against RB Leipzig. “With this change we’re hoping to be more dangerous in front of goal and will have one more player to help us when we look to attack,” explained Muslic. However, he added, “We can’t abandon all the things we’ve done well in defence up until now.”
The hope is that Dejan Ljubičić will be able to add more creativity to the Schalke attack. “He’s incredibly valuable to us,” said Muslic. “He has always performed for us on the pitch and when he’s fit, he can help us in both attack and in defence.” With the midfielder, the Royal Blues are aiming to “take the next step in our development.”
We're in the Bundesliga and will need to give it our all until the end in order to remain in the division.
It’s also about turning any outside pressure into energy and motivation on the pitch. “Pressure can give rise to the most stable and valuable things,” he said. “We have a tough run coming up for us, but we knew that from the start. We’re in the Bundesliga and will need to give it our all until the end in order to remain in the division.”
