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Miron Muslic: We’re competitive and difficult to play against
FC Schalke 04 will play at 15:30 CEST on a Saturday for the first time this season when they host 1. FSV Mainz 05 on matchday 6. “As a child and teenager, I always looked forward to this kick-off time. I used to follow it on TV and on teletext – German Bundesliga, page 215,” revealed Miron Muslic ahead of Saturday’s game (17/10).
His side will face a Mainz team who have won both of their away games so far this season, beating Hamburger SV 5-0 and Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-3. They are also unbeaten in their last eight Bundesliga matches on the road and have won each of their last four.
Plenty of physical battles
Muslic knows what to expect and has prepared his team accordingly during the week. “There will be physical battles all over the pitch. We have to be ready for them. That’s one of our strengths and part of what Schalke is all about. We’ll need that on Saturday, and we’ll need to be patient as well. We’ll also have our fans behind us. At home, we’re capable of anything.”
The Schalke head coach stressed that the fact Mainz are currently top of the away table is no coincidence. “Since Urs Fischer took over ten months ago, they’ve played with a very solid structure in a 5-3-2 system and with two strikers who understand each other inside out,” Muslic said of the opposition.
It’s unpleasant to play against us – and that’s a big compliment to the team.
Phillip Tietz, who has scored four goals this season, is very strong physically, while Sheraldo Becker, with two goals and three assists so far, is one of the quickest players in the league. “They’re difficult to play against,” Muslic said. At the same time, the 44-year-old stressed that his side are well prepared for the challenge. “We have to stay compact defensively. That’s our foundation. We also work as a unit. Over the last 16 months, we’ve built something here as a team. It’s unpleasant to play against us – and that’s a big compliment to the team.”
That was also one of the reasons Schalke were well in the game for long periods against current league leaders Freiburg last weekend. That made the result particularly painful “because we did a lot of things well. We’re competitive and difficult to play against. We’ve shown that in the other games too.”
Looking back at the 2-1 defeat in Freiburg, however, Muslic also identified areas for improvement. “We can back ourselves more in attack, while also making sure we don’t leave ourselves too exposed.” Schalke struck that balance well on matchday 3 in Berlin, when they beat 1. FC Union Berlin 3-1. “We have enough quality in attack. It’s also about putting the lads in better positions to make the most of that quality.”
Focusing on what's to come
Looking back at the 2-1 defeat in Freiburg, however, Muslic also identified areas for improvement. “We can back ourselves more in attack, while also making sure we don’t leave ourselves too exposed.” Schalke struck that balance well on matchday 3 in Berlin, when they beat 1. FC Union Berlin 3-1. “We have enough quality in attack. It’s also about putting the lads in better positions to make the most of that quality.”
Muslic also made clear that he is no longer spending too much time thinking about Union, Freiburg or Schalke’s other three games so far this season. “Our focus is always on what’s ahead. We want to keep developing and improving, so we’re looking forward to the challenge against Mainz.”
