week 16 - match preview

Quick counterthrusts the key to opening up solid Frankfurt defence

The Royal Blues begin the final two-match week of the calendar year with a trip to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. And Mirko Slomka has warned his players not to underestimate Friedhelm Funkel's men, despite the loss of key Eintracht players Alexander Meier and Albert Streit.

Frankfurt's injury problems mean they lack a creative player at present. "But the team have become an even tighter unit as a result", said Slomka. "In the 2-2 draw at Wolfsburg last week the players did everything Funkel asked of them. They fought tenaciously, stayed solid at the back, worked very hard and were full of running", the Schalke boss said.

The Royal Blues will therefore have to give as good as they get on Saturday. "After the 1-0 win over Bochum we were very critical of ourselves", explained Slomka. But as actions speak louder than words, Slomka's training sessions have focused on the things that haven't being going so well in recent weeks.

"This primarily means our passing play in the opposition half", the 40-year-old said, highlighting his side's main weakness in attack. "Although we usually get the ball forward quickly enough, our moves often break down then. "Away from home it's particularly important to play the ball forward quickly so you can launch counterattacks", stressed Slomka, whose players have worked very hard on this tactical ploy over the last few days.

One positive factor has been that almost every player has been able to train throughout the week. Apart from long-term absentees Mathias Abel, Gustavo Varela and Markus Heppke, Slomka has a full squad to choose from, something he said was very reassuring, as it gave him a variety of options when it came to breaking down the packed Frankfurt defence.

Frankfurt's Albert Streit will join Schalke at the beginning of next season at the latest and is out of Saturday's game injury through injury, prompting general manager Andreas Müller to conclude with a wink: "Maybe that will increase our chances of winning on Saturday."