Round 1 - Preview
Assauer demands win in Bremerhaven
Schalke will be without central defender Marcelo Bordon when they take on non-league outfit FC Bremerhaven at the North Sea Stadium on Saturday evening (kick-off: 1800 CET). But general manager Rudi Assauer is clear about the objectives for this first-round DFB Cup clash, saying: "Win, as well as possible, make a good impression and then fly home."
Unlike the Royal Blues the home side have yet to start the season and have played only a few friendlies thus far, the most recent against SV Bremen last weekend. Schalke sent Eddy Achterberg to run the rule over the Verbandsliga (fifth division) side. "We're taking the match very seriously. You have to have the right attitude for games like this. The best thing is to put the result beyond doubt as early as possible, otherwise these cup ties can get very tough", he explained.
Schalke boss Ralf Rangnick will not have a full squad to choose from for the first-round clash. Besides long-term casualties Christian Pander, Mimoun Azaouagh, Christofer Heimeroth, Tim Hoogland and Alexander Baumjohann (all knee), Thomas Kläsener (syndesmosis) and Marco van Hoogdalem (hip), they will also be without Marcelo Bordon. The central defender damaged ankle ligaments in the local derby at Dortmund. "We don't want to take any risks," said Rangnick, who is fully believes, however, that the Brazilian will be fit again for the home clash against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 27 August.
Some doubt still remains over Fabian Ernst, however. The Germany international sustained a thigh injury in Wednesday's friendly with Holland and had to be replaced at half time. Rangnick may therefore decide to rest the former Bremen man on Saturday.
The North Sea Stadium, which has a capacity of 10,000, is a familiar ground to Assauer. "I played my last official match there", explained Schalke's general manager, who was general manager at Werder Bremen at the time. The then 37-year old pulled his boots on again because Werder's amateur team were threatened with relegation. They won 3-1 and thus successfully avoided the drop.
