Week 31 - Match preview

We can achieve a little bit more, says Magath

The Royal Blues are on a run of two Bundesliga defeats in a row for the first time this season. So a third reverse at the VELTINS Arena on Saturday (1530 CET) would not be to the taste of Felix Magath. "We'll be back to our usual strength against Borussia Mönchengladbach," a confident Schalke boss said.

"We are over the disappointment of the needless defeat in Hannover and the mood in training has been good," the 56-year-old continued. "I haven't taken a louder approach over the last few days because I know the players are ready to give their all to win the remaining games.

"Nevertheless, it has to be said that one or two players may be putting themselves under too much pressure due to the situation in the table. I can't look inside their heads, though, but the best thing they can do is not concern themselves with what could happen.

"We've already reached the target we set ourselves before the season started," he emphasised. The same can be said of Saturday's opponents, who virtually guaranteed their Bundesliga status for another year with last Friday's win over Frankfurt. "Unlike Borussia Mönchengladbach, however, we still have an opportunity to achieve a little bit more in the final weeks."

The fact that Michael Frontzeck's team have already met their pre-season target could be a slight advantage for the Lower Rhine outfit, according to Magath. "Borussia are under no pressure," explained the Schalke boss, who expects the visitors to adopt a more defensive strategy. "Mönchengladbach will be looking to break through Juan Arango, Marco Reus and Raul Bobadilla." It will therefore be down to the Royal Blues to seize the initiative. Magath said: "That might be our strongest discipline, but we'll manage."

The Schalke manager draws his confidence from the support his side have been getting. "The atmosphere in recent games has been very, very good," Magath said. "But I hope the noise against Borussia can be increased a touch more."

Marcelo Bordon will be available for selection again after serving a one-match suspension in Hannover. Christian Pander is not likely to feature in the squad, however.  The left-back celebrated his comeback in Tuesday's 7-0 friendly win against a Gelsenkirchen Select XI, but afterwards Pander and Magath were in agreement that after less than two weeks of full training it was too early to consider a return to Bundesliga action.