week 3 - match preview

Slomka: "Aren't here to go sightseeing"

It's first against third as Chelsea take on Schalke. And even though the Royal Blues will certainly go into the Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday (kick-off: 2045 CET) as underdogs, they are not without ambition. "We'll give it all we've got to cause an upset", said head coach Mirko Slomka.

Especially as the Royal Blues are unbeaten away from home this season. "So there's no reason not to be optimistic", continued the Schalke boss, who would not necessarily describe his side as an away team. "Although our discipline and organisation at the back speak for us, last season we were among the best clubs in the league at home." The defeats against Karlsruhe and Valencia were "disappointments", but did not constitute a trend.

In view of the qualities Chelsea possess "we aren't arrogant enough to say we're definitely going to win", added Slomka. Nevertheless, Schalke will do everything they can to become the first German team to take three points from Stamford Bridge. "That would be very special", he said.

The 40-year-old set out the following strategy for springing a surprise: "We have to put Chelsea under pressure and force them into mistakes."

A demand the many Schalke fans who have made the trip to London will certainly underscore. "I was delighted for the supporters when we got Chelsea. They wanted an English club", said Slomka, who doesn't see himself and his team in the role of tourists, though. "Chelsea are a special club and London is a special city, but we haven't come here to go sightseeing. We want to take the points. And that's a serious possibility, especially with the support of the fans."

As far as team selection is concerned, little has changed compared with the Bundesliga match in Rostock. Mladen Krstajic is the only player to return the squad, having recovered from his knee and ankle injury. Germany international Christian Pander has been ruled out by a lingering thigh injury, however. Also missing are Levan Kobiashvili (groin strain), Mesut Özil (torn ligament), Mathias Abel (cruciate) and Gustavo Varela and Halil Altintop (both muscle strains).

Slomka refused to say whether he would opt for the same eleven players who started against Rostock. "We want to await the final training session first. Then we'll sit down and discuss it."