Fortuna Düsseldorf have personnel worries ahead of the floodlit top match against FC Schalke. One part of the team is almost lining up by itself.
Fortuna Düsseldorf have major personnel worries ahead of the floodlit second division top match against FC Schalke 04 (Sat., 8.30 pm, Sky and Sport1) – but coach Daniel Thioune is just as excited. At the hosts’ press conference, Thioune also spoke about his personal Schalke memory and got a laugh out of it.
“The statistics say that I’ve won all the games against Schalke with my teams so far,” said Thioune, only to explain when asked by a journalist: “I think I’ve only played against Schalke once.” In February 2022, Thioune won his first game as Fortuna coach 2:1 against Schalke, who were still coached by Dimitrios Grammozis at the time – something he naturally remembers fondly.
Schalke lags behind Fortuna in the table
But a lot has happened in those 21 months, Daniel Thioune noted: “Back then, the situation was exactly the opposite. Schalke were fifth and Düsseldorf were 16th in the relegation places. Now Schalke are in the basement and Fortuna are at the top
Thioune: “There was more pressure on us back then than there is now. We’re now facing a Schalke team that, when we talk about pressure, is not in such a comfortable situation.” However, Thioune does not want to measure Schalke by their position in the table, but rather “by their names and personnel” – and a very big challenge awaits.
Almost 20,000 Schalke fans are expected to travel to support the Royal Blues. “I’m sure there will be a few more Schalke fans than we’d expect or normally get as guests, that’s cool, that will inspire all the players,” says the coach, who raves about Schalke as a club: “Schalke belongs in the Bundesliga. It’s a huge club with a huge fanbase.”
Fortuna are running out of defenders
The coach will only decide on his line-up for the match on the day – and he has hardly any options, especially in defense. In addition to captain Matthias Zimmermann, without whom Fortuna have yet to win a game this season, Jordy de Wijs is also missing.
Tim Oberdorf and Jamil Siebert have been guaranteed a place in central defense by Thioune. Trained attacker Emmanuel Iyoha will probably have to play at full-back again. Icelander Isak Johannesson, who was involved in almost all of the goals, has been conspicuous of late – but he will probably remain a wild card, Thioune hinted.