Youri Mulder: When the opposition say something like that, we’ve done a lot right

At this point in pre-season, Youri Mulder has been able to draw a positive conclusion for the time being. “I think we’re on the right track – but there’s still a long way to go before the end of that track,” said S04’s director of professional football. “But we’ve always emphasised that we have to take things one step at a time. It’s doesn’t just click overnight.”

The squad is getting better and better at internalising new head coach Miron Muslic’s tactics according to the Dutchman, who recently received good feedback from one of his fellow countrymen. “After the friendly against FC Twente, I spoke with striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel. He told me that he and his teammates found it anything but easy to play against us,” explained Mulder. “When a player from a team that has constantly challenged and vied for the top spots in the Eredivisie for years now says something like that, we’ve done a lot right.” FC Twente finished sixth last season. In the UEFA Europa League, they were knocked out in the play-offs in February after advancing from the league stage.

Schalke’s director of professional football praised the side’s movement and compact defence against the Dutch side. “It wasn’t just that way against Twente, but also in the friendlies against the other two first-division sides (ed. Panathinaikos and FC St. Gallen) while playing in a new formation. When you know that it’s hard for the opposition to play against you, it’s makes you feel good.” S04 kept a clean sheet in all three games.

At the same time, the 56-year-old stressed that there is room for improvement on the ball. What’s more, he noted that the Royal Blues sometimes need to be more clinical in front of goal. The director of professional football believes that the players are on the right path in this regard. Mulder said, “When the foundation is solid enough, you gradually and unconsciously feel more confident in your own strengths and abilities.”