Schalke coach Karel Geraerts likes to play the team that has impressed recently. That won’t be possible in Elversberg.
After the 2-0 win against 1. FC Nürnberg, FC Schalke 04 have their next away assignment in the 2nd Bundesliga ahead of them. On Friday (April 19, 6:30 p.m.), the team travels to SV Elversberg.
In the first leg, Schalke reached a new negative high after losing 2:1 at home to the strong promoted team. Schalke therefore still have a score to settle here.
S04 coach Karel Geraerts would probably prefer to field the team that impressed against Nuremberg last time out. However, he will almost certainly have to do without Cedric Brunner (knee problem).
Alternatives are Brandon Soppy, Henning Matriciani and Steven van der Sloot. It remains to be seen who will play. The coach will probably also have to do without super talent Assan Ouedraogo again, as Geraerts explained at the pre-match press conference: “He has slight pain in his adductor area, which persists. That’s why we don’t want to take any risks. He’s still young and is getting to know his body. We talk to him a lot. He also has to be mentally ready. He’s not ready today. “
Whoever ends up in the team, the route is clear. The aim is to finally score three points again away from home. However, the Belgian once again warned against Elversberg, who recently triumphed at FC St. Pauli: “I remember the first leg very well and the fact that everyone was talking about our defeat in the weeks that followed. They are a good team with a lot of good players. I told my lads that they had to keep their feet on the ground. We have to show them a lot of respect. If we’re not at one hundred percent, we’ll definitely lose.”
Which would mean things could get tighter again in the relegation battle, with Schalke currently four points clear of the relegation places. That’s why planning for the new season is already underway – with a focus on the Bundesliga 2, of course.
Geraerts looks to the future: “The results of the next five games will be decisive for the planning. Of course, the club is already busy behind the scenes. If that wasn’t the case, we wouldn’t be doing a good job. “