week 6 - match preview

Schalke on a roll ahead of tough Cologne challenge

The Royal Blues kick off Week 6 on Friday evening (2030 CET) with a trip to newly promoted FC Cologne, who with four points to their name have not made the best of starts to the season and now entertain the league leaders.

"At the beginning of the season clubs sometimes don't get quite the results they're looking for", said Fred Rutten, who nevertheless won't be underestimating Cologne for a second. "It won't be an easy game", he maintained.

The Dutchman is a particular admirer of Cologne's fighting spirit. "They also have some quality players in their ranks", he continued, before expressing his respect for his managerial counterpart: "Christoph Daum is a good, experienced coach who will set his team up well."

Rutten has warned his players that Cologne will not let their heads drop even if Schalke take the lead. "They have a good mentality. We'll need to be totally focused from the first minute to the last."

The Royal Blues do not have fond memories of their last visit to the RheinEnergieStadium. In the second round of the DFB Cup in the 2006/07 season, when Cologne were still a second division side, they slipped to a 4-2 defeat after extra-time. But Rutten feels neither that game nor Schalke's 2-0 victory over Hannover in the cup on Tuesday will have any relevance for tomorrow's match.

"Whether you win or lose, you have 24 hours to go over the last game. But then you have to focus all your attention on the next match", he said. Nevertheless, the win over Hannover is bound to have been a confidence booster.