week 18 - match preview

Schalke out to unleash wave of euphoria in Frankfurt

Schalke 04 start the second half of the Bundesliga season at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. And head coach Mirko Slomka is hoping his team can carry on where they left off before the winter break: "We want to move the ball forward quickly and take everyone with us an a journey with our attractive style of football."

Everyone at the club knows where this journey is meant to end. "I think it's good that the players are talking about the league title", said general manager Andreas Müller. "It means they fully identify with this goal." The same applies to Slomka, who stressed, however, that they would do well to take each game as it comes. "I totally agree with Fabian Ernst. In Frankfurt we have a chance to unleash a wave of euphoria if we win, a wave that can carry us."

Yet Slomka also warned against complacency in view of the "demanding week ahead". The Royal Blues face two difficult away matches in Frankfurt and at Werder Bremen (Feb 4), while next Wednesday's home clash with tough newcomers Alemannia Aachen is by no means a foregone conclusion.

The Schalke boss feels Frankfurt's strengths lie in their attack. "They have some pacy strikers", said Slomka, referring to Naohiro Takahara, Ioannis Amanatidis and, in Albert Streit, "one of the best providers around". Yet Friedhelm Funkel's team did not exactly shine at home during the first of the season, winning just two of their eight matches. "Being at home they'll obviously have to do more, which will create space we need to exploit", added Slomka.

Despite being reluctant to reveal his hand as far as his formation was concerned, Slomka hinted that he may well field the side that beat Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 last Saturday.