week 12 - match preview

"Attack them early" key to success against Mainz

Following the 2-0 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach the Royal Blues have a chance to consolidate their position at the top end of the table by beating FSV Mainz 05 at the VELTINS Arena on Saturday. At Thursday's press conference head coach Mirko Slomka was in an optimistic mood, saying: "We're playing really well at the moment." Although a number of key performers were missing "the players have done everything we've asked of them. That's a good sign."

The away win at the Borussia Park had boosted the players' confidence, the Schalke boss said. Slomka felt it was a good performance by his team, who had sought to impose themselves from the opening whistle. "We had Gladbach totally under control, which is important for the challenges to come."

Yet the 39-year-old coach will not be underestimating Saturday's opponents. Though Mainz currently find themselves in the drop zone, Slomka does not believe it is an accurate reflection of their ability. "They have worked a lot on their tactics and runs recently", he said, referring to the training camp Mainz staged at the end of October.

During the 1-1 draw in Leverkusen and even the 2-1 home defeat to Wolfsburg, Mainz had displayed the qualities they are known for, he continued. "The man on the ball is always harried by two players. They have some good tacklers for this and a couple of lads in midfield who like to steal the ball." Mainz were also dangerous from set pieces, so his team would have to be careful. For Slomka the key to success on Saturday was clear: "We have to attack them early."

The Schalke boss was unable to say which eleven players would be tasked with this job. Some doubt remains over three potential candidates: Marcelo Bordon, Peter Lovenkrands and Hamit Altintop.

A decision on the Schalke captain, who sustained a thigh strain during the clash with Bayern Munich, will not be made until just before the game. "We're obviously doing everything we can to get him fit for Saturday. I'm not ruling it out, but we'll have to wait and see how things develop over the next two days."

On Friday it will also become clearer whether Peter Lovenkrands will recover in time. The Denmark forward bruised a knee in Mönchengladbach. "I hope he'll be able to train again tomorrow", said Slomka. The same goes for Hamit Altintop, who suffered a recurrence of an old thigh injury on Wednesday evening. As Zlatan Bajramovic is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card, it would be particularly annoying were the Turkey international to miss out.

Slomka has great respect for the work of his colleague Jürgen Klopp, incidentally. "He's doing a fantastic job in Mainz. I'm expecting to face a side that has been prepared really well." The fact that the visitors were bottom of the table, had something to do with the changes in summer, when Mainz had lost a lot of key players, he said. "With his never-say-die attitude on the pitch Michael Thurk, for example, was a very important player. He was ideal for Mainz." In spite of all the departures Slomka is sure they will "go their own way and avoid the drop. But obviously I can't wish them any luck for Saturday."