Game one of Kees van Wonderen as Schalke coach. Before the trip to Hanover, he announced that he will only decide the goalkeeper question after four games.

On Saturday (1 p.m.) FC Schalke will play their first game with new coach Kees van Wonderen in the 2nd Bundesliga. And it’s going to be a tough one.

Because they’re going to Hanover 96. And coach Stefan Leitl’s team is the strongest eleven in front of their own fans so far. All four games were won at home, the 96ers didn’t drop any points against Jahn Regensburg, HSV, Kaiserslautern and 1. FC Nuremberg.

So there are easier tasks to start with – how van Wonderen wants to tackle the task, he said in the press conference before the game.

van Wonderen on…

… the personnel at his disposal: “Adrian Gantenbein and Christopher Antwi-Adjei are still injured. Ibrahima Cissé will return from the international trip on Friday.”

… his first days at Schalke: “It feels like home, the club is so professional. I enjoy working with the players and the squad. Hopefully I’ll have fun on Saturday too.”

… the opponents from Hanover: “I know that they have a strong team, that they have won all their home games. They have experienced players, are very agile when playing between the lines. They are certainly a very dangerous team at home. But that’s also good for us: we are being challenged. For me it will be interesting to see: how far we have come, how can we defend ourselves against quality on the pitch. I’m looking forward to it.”

… the goalkeeper question: “The decision has been made. Before the press conference I spoke to Ron-Thorben Hoffmann and Justin Heekeren. In my opinion we have four very good goalkeepers. We have decided on the following solution. The first game away in Hanover is a big match. Thorben will play here, and he will also be in goal against Fürth. Then we go to Augsburg in the cup, where Justin will be in goal. Justin will also be in goal for the following league game against Ulm. Then both will have played two games, and we will be away for three and a half weeks. Then I can make a better statement about who will be in goal afterwards. I’m in no hurry. If I make a decision, I have to be able to justify it. But you have to have worked with the players for a certain amount of time to do that.”

This is how FC Schalke could play against Hannover 96

Hoffmann – Aydin, Kalas, Kaminski, Murkin – Seguin, Schallenberg – Younes, Mohr – Sylla, Karaman

Missing: Antwi-Adjei (muscular thigh injury)

Suspension threatened: Karaman