Miron Muslic: We need to stick together, stay united and work as a team

“We have to stop Köln from playing to their strengths and find a way to deal with the intensity they bring to their home games,” said the Schalke head coach. Saturday’s opponents have picked up all seven of their points this season at home, beating TSG Hoffenheim 3-2 and Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1, as well as drawing 1-1 with Werder Bremen. Muslic also believes that Saïd El Mala, who recently received his first call-up to the Germany squad, could be a significant threat. “We have to stop him,” he said.

However, the Royal Blues’ preparations have involved far more than simply finding a way to deal with El Mala. “We need to stick together, stay united and work as a team. That’s what has defined us over the past 16 months. We didn’t do those things for more than an hour against Mainz, so we were well below our best,” said Muslic. “It wasn’t until the 65th minute that we really started fighting for every ball and found our way back into the game. We can’t afford to let that happen again.”

Muslic acknowledged that off days are part of football. “You have to move on from these things, even when they hurt. Now, we have another chance to put things right in Cologne.” As well as looking for a more solid defensive performance, the head coach wants his side to offer more going forward. He stressed that this is not all down to the attacking players. “We need to give our forwards better service,” explained the 44-year-old. “Any striker will struggle if the ball isn’t coming into the box. We need to do a better job of building attacks as a team and getting quality balls into dangerous areas. That’s something we’re working on.”

Muslic is also considering making slight changes to Schalke’s approach. “We might need to tweak our tactical setup to create more chances,” he said. Before deciding on his starting XI, however, the head coach has several injury problems to contend with.

Several players unavailable and Džeko a doubt

Moussa Sylla is still sidelined after suffering a leg injury when he was caught by an opponent’s studs against Freiburg. Captain Kenan Karaman (muscular problems), Ron Schallenberg (leg injury) and Maximilian Wöber (thigh) will also miss the game. Wöber could be out for some time. “There’s a chance Maxi won’t play again this calendar year,” said Muslic. Edin Džeko is also a doubt after sustaining a laceration to the head against Mainz. Although the striker has already returned to team training, his inclusion in the squad will depend on how well the wound heals.

Muslic is refusing to dwell on the injury problems and is instead focused on finding replacements. Dejan Ljubičić is not yet available after suffering a knee injury on matchday 3 in Berlin. The Austria international is back in team training, but Muslic confirmed that “the games against Köln and Dresden will come too soon for him. If everything goes well, Dejan could be back in contention for the home game against Leipzig.”

Bryan Lasme, meanwhile, could make the matchday squad for the first time this season. The forward has been working his way back from a muscle injury and featured in both friendlies during the international window, against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and Austria Lustenau. He also recently played for Schalke’s U23s against Westfalia Rhynern.