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Karel Geraerts: The team got stuck in and looked like a unit
FC Schalke 04 have returned to Germany, with their flight from Faro on Wednesday evening landing safely in Düsseldorf at 19:18 CET. Karel Geraerts was feeling positive after the nine-day training camp in Albufeira. “The team got stuck in and looked like a unit. The quality and intensity in training was very good and the commitment was plain to see,” explained S04’s head coach.
The only negative from the trip to Portugal was that the Royal Blues didn’t win any of their friendlies, as they were defeated 3-2 by Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg and drew 1-1 with Spanish outfit Recreativo Huelva. Geraerts stressed, however, that the results were secondary and that gaining experience was much more important. “I saw a few things that we can build on,” said the Belgian. “We played some good football, even with tired legs.”
The quality and intensity in training was very good and the commitment was plain to see
Geraerts went on to say that, against Huelva in particular, the only thing missing from the performance was a second goal as a reward for their performance. “After the substitutes came on, we applied a lot of pressure again and created some good chances,” said the head coach. “We would’ve deserved to win if we had used one or two of them better.”
The head coach is nevertheless happy to see the players who have recently been absent due to injury making good progress on their respective rehabilitation programmes. There have been no new injuries, which is not always a given, especially in training camps. “That shows me that the players have stuck to their programmes over the winter break,” Geraerts explained. The injury prevention and recovery sessions at the training camp were also effective in ensuring the fitness of the squad.
Recharging the batteries prior to the final stages of preparation
Geraerts is hesitant to pick out a player who particularly excelled at the training camp, as “everyone put in the right level of commitment. That was also the case for the five academy boys who joined us in Albufeira. They made a good impression, whilst also gaining valuable experience.”
It means that we need to continue to work hard and make further progress before the start of the second half of the season in a week and a half against Hamburger SV. We want to keep improving consistently.
After the camp, the head coach allowed the boys to take a deserved day off. “We’ll start training again from Friday,” explained the Belgian. “The players should use Thursday to rest and recover, while also spending time with their loved ones.” Geraerts himself is looking forward to seeing his family, as both he and his wife celebrated a birthday over the course of the training camp.
The friendly fixture against K.A.S. Eupen on Saturday, 13th January (13:30 CET) will signal the start of the most crucial phase of Schalke 04’s preparations for the second half of the season. “We’ve worked well so far, but are also aware that we can’t afford to sit back now. Instead, it means that we need to continue to work hard and make further progress before the start of the second half of the season in a week and a half against Hamburger SV. We want to keep improving consistently,” said Geraerts.
