week 10 - match preview
Müller accepts Schalke are favourites in Rostock
Even though Hansa Rostock have lost six of their nine Bundesliga fixtures to date, the Royal Blues will not be underestimating the Baltic coast side. Rostock have looked more assured ever since coach Frank Pagelsdorf changed the system, and recently beat VfB Stuttgart at home. Schalke are forewarned, then, but nevertheless it is with a clear objective in mind that they travel north for Saturday's game.
"Even though we're playing away we're definitely the favourites", said general manager Andreas Müller, not unhappy with the role. "We simply have to get three points there." Müller underlined what will be required if the Royal Blues are to achieve this objective, saying: "We have to build on our performances before the Karlsruhe game."
Mirko Slomka takes a similar view, and after the two-week international break the Schalke boss is pleased to be getting back down to league business. The Royal Blues have used the time to work on their fitness and tinker with the system. "Obviously we've been a bit handicapped as far as tactical things are concerned, not having the international players here", said Slomka.
The Schalke boss certainly has respect for the newly promoted side, who started the season with five straight defeats. Hansa coach Frank Pagelsdorf elected to play two holding midfielders as a result, a move that has benefited the team. Rostock went on to win their next three games, not succumbing again until Wolfsburg scored late on in a 1-0 defeat.
"So we've been warned", stressed Slomka. "Rostock were a bit fortunate to beat Stuttgart at home, of course, but Stuttgart are a strong side. We've drawn our conclusions from the game and are determined not to make the same mistake", said Slomka, who knows Pagelsdorf from their time together at Hannover 96. "Frank coached Hannover's second string before he went to Berlin. That's where we met."
The 40-year-old is not concerned about the current situation in the table, seeing a tight chasing pack behind leaders Bayern Munich. "Before the season started we expected Hamburg to be up there. And Werder Bremen have recovered from a shaky start and are now challenging at the top as well." One thing has annoyed him, though: "The defeat against Karlsruhe was totally unnecessary. If we hadn't lost that we'd be a bit closer to Bayern."
Slomka wasn't surprised to see Germany's most successful club open up a gap at the top. "We didn't expect Bayern to drop many points. But in Munich we proved that we can hold our own. We even had the chance to take all three points." The Schalke boss is convinced Bayern will trip up some time. "It may even happen in Bochum this Saturday."
