week 16 - match preview
Slomka keeps cards close to his chest ahead of derby
As successful as the Royal Blues have been in the local derby with Borussia Dortmund recently, they have not beaten them at home in five years. In front of a sell-out crowd at the VELTINS Arena on Sunday, this is set to change. But at today's pre-match press conference, head coach Mirko Slomka was refusing to name the team he intends to do the job.
Just one week ago the Schalke boss named his line-up for the trip to Nürnberg in advance. But against Dortmund he feels this would be inadvisable. "We have so many tactical options available to us, I'm happy to give them something to think about as far as our formation is concerned", the 39-year-old explained. Accordingly, no information was forthcoming on the role that will be played by Brazilian midfielder Lincoln, for instance, who has been suffering from a slight knee problem.
One player Slomka had been hoping to fall back on will not be available, however. "Unfortunately we'll be without Zlatan Bajramovic because his calf injury has failed to clear up in time. I hope he'll back for our final match before the winter break next week," he explained. In addition to long-term casualties Gerald Asamoah (broken leg) and Tim Hoogland (medial ligament strain), Marcelo Bordon is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card in Nürnberg.
Yet with four wins in a row in November the Royal Blues have shown they can compensate for the loss of their captain. "Normally he's indispensable", said Slomka, "but this season we've shown that we have some very good alternatives at centre-back. Tim Hoogland, for example, has done very well in this position when he's come in." This was one of the reasons for the team's recent run of good form, he added. "Everyone's had an opportunity to play and they've all made the most of it." Regardless of who plays on Sunday, Slomka is hoping this will continue to be the case against Dortmund.
Schalke last defeated their local rivals at home on 15 September 2001, the first time the two sides met at the Arena, Andreas Möller, of all people, getting the only goal of the game against his former club. Since then the games have ended 2-2, 2-2, 1-2 and 0-0. And once again Dortmund come to the Arena on the back of some decent away form. "We know how dangerous they are away from home, as they've demonstrated by winning in Cottbus and Bremen. But we aren't going to concern ourselves with that. We've got to impose our game on them", concluded Slomka.
