week 1 - match preview

Magath: onus is on Nürnberg to win

"Pre-season is irrelevant, it's no yardstick", said Felix Magath ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga opener in Nürnberg, emphasising the fact that league points are what are at stake now.

"The players have been exposed to a lot of new things in the last few weeks and we've done a lot of experimenting. They've have worked hard in training and are definitely well prepared in fitness terms", the Schalke manager continued. "Nevertheless we aren't a fully homogeneous unit yet and so we'll have to show our battling qualities."

Magath expects Nürnberg to do quite well this season, especially after two outstanding performances in the play-offs against Energie Cottbus: "It was impressive the way they beat Cottbus twice. But if we defend as well as we have done in recent years, it's going to be difficult for any team to score against us."

Magath says he has detected an improvement in training: "The relationship between the individual departments in the team is better now. Overall we are more compact than we were at the beginning of pre-season."

The Schalke boss is convinced Nürnberg will keep clear of the relegation battle and play a decent role in the league, as their young team has remained largely intact since gaining promotion from the second division. "Nevertheless the opening home game is always hard for a newly promoted side. Whether you like it or not, the onus is on you to win."

Magath is, of course, aware that this is no ordinary game. "I've been head coach almost everyone, including Nürnberg", he said with a grin. During his time there he gained an insight into the friendship between both sets of fans. "We were in the second division at the time, but I remember that there was always a loud cheer whenever Schalke were doing well. I have very positive memories of Nürnberg, which is why I'll be going there with amicable feelings."

Jermaine Jones (hairline shin fracture) and Christian Pander (knee injury) are both sidelined for Saturday, as are Danny Latza (calf), David Loheider (metatarsal) and Predrag Stevanovic (cruciate ligament). Jefferson Farfan is back on board, however. "He has recovered from flu and completed a running session the day before yesterday before resuming full training yesterday, where he made a good impression", said