Group stage: Schalke - Istanbul Preview
Moral victory not enough for Rangnick against Fenerbahce
On Tuesday evening the Royal Blues take on Fenerbahce at the Arena in what is the first of two possible finals in European football's premier club competition. "If we don't win, we can forget the Champions League", emphasised general manager Rudi Assauer at today's pre-match media conference.
The 61-year-old expects a response on the pitch after two defeats in succession. "The players have quite a lot to make up for. What's most important is that they start showing the qualities they have been lacking recently", said Assauer, who in Hamburg had the feeling that the players were not resisting with all the means at their disposal, a view shared by Ralf Rangnick.
"We most definitely need these qualities", said the Schalke head coach, who first and foremost wants to see his players put in a battling performance and show a willingness to work for each other.
In Istanbul the Royal Blues proved they are more than capable of this. Rangnick believes they "dominated the match" for long periods at the Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium. "But at home a moral victory is not enough. We have to take all three points."
If Schalke win they will face their next 'final' at home to PSV Eindhoven in three weeks' time. "But if we lose, we'll only have third place to play for", Rangnick added, a scenario he is ruling out, however.
Christoph Daum's Turkish side travel to Gelsenkirchen full of confidence after registering nine league wins in a row to put them top of the table ahead of archrivals Galatasaray.
Rangnick is therefore preparing for the match accordingly. "We're taking every player seriously. A man such as Nicolas Anelka, for example, stands for top quality. But we are ready for them."
The 47-year-old Schalke boss claimed the absence of Fenerbahce playmaker Alex was not a decisive factor, saying: "We have to replace some important players as well."
That is indeed the case. Gerald Asamoah (knee strain), Mimoun Azaouagh (inflamed knee) Marco van Hoogdalem (hip injury), Tim Hoogland (knee strain) and Christian Pander (torn cruciate) remain sidelined, while three other players are carrying knocks they sustained in Hamburg. The Brazilian Rafinha suffered a blow to the ankle, and Sören Larsen and Levan Kobiashvili have muscular problems. And while the doctors are confident the Georgian will be fit to play, some doubt remains over the former two.
One other recent injury worry, though, is on his way back, as Fabian Ernst is a candidate for Rangnick's starting line-up on Tuesday. In the past two weeks the Schalke coaching staff have devoted a lot of attention to the Germany international, who after making a good start to the season has struggled to find his form just lately. "If you look at him, you can see he's feeling better. He's on the right track", said Rangnick, who definitely has Ernst in his plans for Saturday's home clash with MSV Duisburg, a game for which Christian Poulsen is suspended after his sending-off in Hamburg on Saturday.
