week 12 - match preview

Slomka expects total commitment in Cottbus

Following the 2-0 cup win against Hannover 96 the Royal Blues are determined to land a victory in the Bundesliga. So the strategy for the floodlight game at Energie Cottbus this Friday is clear. Yet Schalke won't be underestimating the home team, who have failed to win a single game this season.

"Cottbus is always a dangerous place to go", warns head coach Mirko Slomka, "because they have a very competitive attitude, which is what the fans will want to see, of course". The clash at the Stadium of Friendship is therefore anything but a walkover, despite the home side's precarious position at the bottom of the table. According to Slomka, Schalke have to impose their game on the Brandenburg side.

"I expect my team to play at full pace", the 40-year-old said, emphasising that nothing less than total commitment will be required on Friday. "We have to seize the initiative and try and take the lead as soon as possible." This meant they had to put Cottbus under pressure and force them into mistakes to allow Schalke to play to their full potential, he continued.

Besides taking the chances on offer, the Schalke boss feels a determination to run and tackle will be vital if his side are to win, saying: "You can only make effective use of your chances if you get hold of the ball early, after all."

The Royal Blues will be looking for a repeat of last season's 4-2 win in the same fixture, when they were particularly strong on the break. In Vlad Munteanu and Sergiu Radu, Cottbus have lost their quickest attacking players to VfL Wolfsburg. "And in Bojan Prasnikar they have a new coach who has them playing in a completely different way", added Slomka, who believes the fact that Cottbus have yet to find a suitably settled team will be an advantage for the Royal Blues.

Despite the loss of Radu and Munteanu, Cottbus still had two dangerous strikers, he said. "I'm referring to Dennis Sorensen and Dimitar Rangelov, who was a target for a number of clubs before the season started", the Schalke boss concluded, referring to a strike duo who have scored five of just seven goals this term.