week 10 - match preview
Rutten hails mental and physical fitness
The Royal Blues are targeting their first win in Karlsruhe for 12 years on Tuesday evening (kick-off: 2000 CET). Last season saw them take just one of a possible six points against the Badeners.
"The players are in excellent mental and physical shape", said head coach Fred Rutten, emphasising that the busy schedule is not having a negative effect on the team. "We're top fit. Though we were held to a 0-0 draw by Bielefeld around 44 hours after the final whistle of our UEFA Cup tie against PSG, that had nothing to do with our fitness. We just lacked a bit of luck", the Dutchman continued.
"We put in a good performance against Bielefeld, but in the end we didn't manage to put the ball in the net. Against Karlsruhe it'll be different. But our tactical discipline and commitment will have to be right from the opening whistle because Edmund Becker's team are awkward opponents.
"I got to see them against VfL Wolfsburg four weeks ago. It was a game of two halves but they won 2-1. Bayern Munich also struggled against them in Karlsruhe and didn't get the all-important goal until the closing stages.
"In my eyes Karlsruhe are a much better side than Bielefeld", added Rutten. "Like us, they need a victory. But we are Schalke 04 and so we're favourites." After three defeats in eight days Karlsruhe are now just two points above the drop zone. The Royal Blues are seventh and will be looking to remain in contention at the top with a win.
As things stand Rutten will have Heiko Westermann at his disposal again. The Germany international sustained a foot injury in the UEFA Cup clash with PSG that kept him out of Saturday's game against Bielefeld. Rutten: "Heiko trained today and I think he'll be able to play."
This does not apply to Christian Pander, however. The Schalke left-back is still being dogged by calf trouble, and although Rutten expects Pander to return very soon, he does not feel he'll be ready for Tuesday. Meanwhile Levan Kenia is again struggling with an ankle problem. "He went over on it again in training, but we haven't had a definitive diagnosis yet", explained Rutten. With the exception of the suspended Carlos Grossmüller and Gustavo Varela, the rest of the squad are all fully fit and available for selection.
