On Matchday 4, Holstein Kiel are guests at Schalke 04 – and could meet an old acquaintance. That’s what Holstein coach Rapp said in the run-up to the match.
After two wins at the start of the 2nd Bundesliga, Holstein Kiel conceded their first defeat on matchday 3 against 1. FC Magdeburg.
Next on the agenda is the away match at relegated FC Schalke 04, with which the Kielers open Matchday 4 on Friday evening (25 August, 18:30). The Gelsenkircheners are looking for their second home win after three points from three games.
“When Holstein Kiel play Schalke, you are always the underdog,” explained Holstein coach Marcel Rapp at the club’s press conference. Nevertheless, the Kiel head coach sees a good chance of taking points away from the district. “We have our strengths, are a consolidated and young team that knows we can hold our own against any opponent. Schalke have great individual quality, plus the stadium and Schalke are desperate to win. We are prepared for that.”
It remains to be seen whether Timo Becker is already far enough along in his preparation. The defender reported himself fit after tearing a syndesmosis ligament, but Rapp does not want to rush into a start.
Becker is a pupil of the Knappenschmiede, went through the Schalk youth and moved to the U17 of Rot-Weiss Essen, where he took his first steps in men’s football and played 89 competitive games for RWE. This was followed by a return to S04, a loan spell with Hansa Rostock – and last summer a move to the Baltic Sea.
You can adjust to that and know that you’re playing against the spectators, that there will be a certain emotionality because of the spectators.
Marcel Rapp
For Becker, it’s “a special game, so as a coach I have a bit of a duty of care not to get him into anything. Everyone knows that it’s his club, and he’s still throwing everything in for Holstein,” Rapp urged caution, but guaranteed: “He’ll definitely be in the squad.” Centre-back Carl Johansson, on the other hand, will be missing.
Becker is not the only one expecting an impressive crowd. “I don’t think I have to explain to any player what will happen at Schalke. You simply have to have experienced it,” said Rapp. His team has been warned of that, he added. “You can prepare for it and you know that you are playing against the crowd, that there will be a certain emotionality because of the crowd. When I listen to the team, we go there full of anticipation. We’ll get support from a lot of Kiel fans and we want to prove ourselves.” Around 2700 Kiel fans are expecting the Holsteiners in the visitors’ block at Schalke.
