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Karel Geraerts positive after Mittersill training camp
With S04’s training camp in Mittersill now complete, head coach Karel Geraerts is looking back on his side’s time in the Hohe Tauern national park with satisfaction. “All of the players have been working well,” says Geraerts. “Nobody picked up any serious injuries.” The only fitness issue in the S04 squad is a muscle problem for Bryan Lasme.
Schalke’s 2-2 draw against Dynamo Kyiv in the final game of their pre-season training camp was, by all accounts, a positive result for the team. Karel Geraerts came away from the game having seen “a team that did well. It was a decent performance.” New club captain Kenan Karaman and Moussa Sylla scored in the draw against the Ukrainian vice-champions, who will soon be competing in the qualifying rounds for the 2024/25 Champions League.
S04 improve in second pre-season friendly
“We did a lot better than against Midtjylland three days ago. We’ve analysed some of the things that didn’t go so well in that game and re-watched some of the videos from the defeat,” explains Geraerts. “We’ve had a look at our positional play and pressing tactics, for example. I’m delighted to see the team taking the feedback on board so quickly and putting it into practice against Kyiv. We now have about three weeks until our first competitive game, and we’ll be working hard throughout that time.”
The new signings have settled in well, both on and off the pitch.
Geraerts is confident that the foundations for a successful season are in place. “The boys are all really pulling their weight and there’s a positive atmosphere around the group. I get the feeling the team get along well with each other and they’re getting better and better.” The squad’s ten new additions, per Geraerts, are gelling with the team as expected. “They’ve settled in well, both on and off the pitch. Moussa Sylla, for example, has formed a strong partnership with Kenan Karaman and Paul Seguin.” Felipe Sanchez, who only linked up with the rest of the squad for the training camp in Austria, is already looking right at home at the club. “But the lad still needs some time to find his feet in a new environment. We’ll give him that time,” emphasised the Belgian.
It was important for as many players as possible to get game time in the Royal Blues’ friendlies against Champions League opposition. “I don’t just have eleven players – this is a big group. It’s important that every player gets match practice,” explains Geraerts. The next opportunity for the S04 squad to get that match practice is coming up on Thursday, when they visit SC Verl (18:30 CEST).
