week 4 - match preview

Slomka expects "enormous battle" against Chelsea

Schalke go into Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea (kick-off: 2045 CET) under less than perfect auspices. The Royal Blues slipped to defeat in Cottbus in the Bundesliga on Friday and will be without several key players for the visit of the London side, including Kevin Kuranyi and Christian Pander. Yet instead of lamenting his predicament Schalke coach Mirko Slomka prefers to go on the offensive, saying: "We have to pull closer together. The players have an opportunity to make amends."

"Every player who is picked to face Chelsea will be delighted to be able to play in this game", the Schalke boss told journalists at today's press conference, convinced the players will repay his trust with a decent performance on the pitch. Slomka feels the Royal Blues have a 50-50 chance of winning the game, even though his injury-hit side are up against extremely tough opponents.

"We showed in London that we're capable of holding our own", he said, recalling Carlos Grossmüller's goal that was incorrectly ruled out for offside and Soren Larsen's header that struck the post, for example. "So we go into the game fully motivated", he stressed. The 40-year-old sees no reason why his side should be afraid of the visitors.

In the reverse fixture the timing of Chelsea's goals had been the key factor in his team's defeat, he said. "Conceding goals at the start of each half was a killer blow for us." To prevent the same thing happening again, his side would have to play with tremendous passion: "It's our job to make sure the fans get behind us for as long as possible.

"If the crowd feel we aren't giving 100 percent, however, the Arena could go quiet and if that happens we'll have surrendered our home advantage. But with two home games left in the Champions League we are still in with a chance."

After the 1-0 defeat at Energie Cottbus the Schalke boss spent a lot time talking to his players. "As a result I'm convinced we'll see a different team out there that will show great passion in trying to win the game. After the match we should at least be able to say we gave it all we had", said Slomka, who is expecting an "enormous battle" tomorrow.

"The players fought for an entire season to be able to play in the Champions League. It's an opportunity we can't just throw away. There are no excuses now."