week 28 - match preview

Büskens wary of Energie's physical approach

It is exactly one year to the day since the Royal Blues won their first home fixture under the stewardship of then caretaker boss Mike Büskens when they saw off Energie Cottbus by five goals to nil. "I have fond memories of the game, of course", said Büskens.

"Winning at home in my first game in temporary charge was a great experience", he recalled. Along with fellow coaches Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck, he will be on the Schalke bench again this Friday evening. But he believes his players will take more confidence from their recent results than last season's drubbing of Energie. "The progress we have made in the last few matches will give us self-belief against Cottbus", he explained.

Büskens expects to see a rather different game to the one against Karlsruhe last weekend. "I'It is exactly one year to the day since the Royal Blues won their first home fixture under the stewardship of then caretaker boss Mike Büskens when they saw off Energie Cottbus by five goals to nil. "I have fond memories of the game, of course", said Büskens.

"Winning at home in my first game in temporary charge was a great experience", he recalled. Along with fellow coaches Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck, he will be on the Schalke bench again this Friday evening. But he believes his players will take more confidence from their recent results than last season's drubbing of Energie. "The progress we have made in the last few matches will give us self-belief against Cottbus", he explained.

Büskens expects to see a rather different game to the one against Karlsruhe last weekend. "I'm expecting Cottbus to defend more deeply than KSC did", the 41-year-old said. "Cottbus will be hoping to catch us out of position if we lose the ball because it will suit their quick, direct attacking football. Their game is also more physical than Karlsruhe's. So while we won't exactly be flying into the tackles, we obviously won't be avoiding them either."

The Royal Blues have won all five of their home games against Cottbus to date and have yet to concede a goal. "It's down to us again to show the qualities that will prevent them from taking even one point", he stressed.

Special attention will therefore have to be given to Cottbus striker Dimitar Rangelov, who has scored eight of their 24 goals this season, including five already this year. "He's on form, of course, but we have to be wary of their counterattacking game in general", said Büskens. "For us it's all about being patient."
m expecting Cottbus to defend more deeply than KSC did", the 41-year-old said. "Cottbus will be hoping to catch us out of position if we lose the ball because it will suit their quick, direct attacking football. Their game is also more physical than Karlsruhe's. So while we won't exactly be flying into the tackles, we obviously won't be avoiding them either."

The Royal Blues have won all five of their home games against Cottbus to date and have yet to concede a goal. "It's down to us again to show the qualities that will prevent them from taking even one point", he stressed.

Special attention will therefore have to be given to Cottbus striker Dimitar Rangelov, who has scored eight of their 24 goals this season, including five already this year. "He's on form, of course, but we have to be wary of their counterattacking game in general", said Büskens. "For us it's all about being patient."