Group stage: Istanbul - Schalke Preview
Rangnick targets victory in Turkey
Ralf Rangnick is in a determined mood ahead of Wednesday evening's Champions League clash with Fenerbahce in Istanbul (kick-off: 2045 CET). "We have to impose our game on them just as we did against AC Milan. If we do, then we're in with a chance", the Schalke head coach said.
Owing to the situation in the group Rangnick feels his team are under more pressure than the home side. "It's an enormously important game for us. We have to pick up some points here if we don't want to be doing our sums on the last few matchdays and relying on the results of the others. I don't think we can go for a draw. We've come here to win."
Fenerbahce, who have three points after two games, have been watched four times by the Royal Blues. "Our head scout Uwe Scherr has seen their Champions League matches and two league games as well. We know what we need to know", said Rangnick.
It has not escaped Rangnick's notice that in the Brazilian Alex and the Frenchman Nicolas Anelka there are two key players in Christoph Daum's team. "They were involved in all the decisive situations in the last few games. But we can't afford to concentrate on just one or two players", he explained.
The task now was to build on the performance against AC Milan, he added. "The Italians are the top favourites really, but we saw that they can be beaten. That's why the game on Wednesday is so important."
So far the Schalke coach has named only one player in his starting line-up. "Hamit Altintop will definitely start", he said.
He declined to mention, however, whether he would operate with just one striker, as many teams are doing in the Champions League. "It's certainly something I'm thinking about, but I don't want to say too much about our formation."
Apart from the long-term casualties Rangnick has a full squad to choose from.
