Round of 16: Schalke - Palermo Preview
Slomka urges cautious approach against Palermo
One thing everyone in the Schalke camp agrees on is that a 1-0 deficit is a "dangerous score" to have to pull back in a European cup-tie. But ahead of the home clash against US Palermo, Mirko Slomka does not feel his side are under any added pressure.
"Naturally we can't afford to concede a goal. But even if we'd come back from Palermo with a goalless draw, we'd still need to score to go through", the Schalke coach explained. "We have 90 minutes to get a goal. That would then give Palermo some thinking to do, as a 1-0 scoreline wouldn't be enough for them to progress."
Team manager Andreas Müller also urged caution, saying: "We won't be launching an all-out attack." Recent Bundesliga matches showed that this wasn't necessary, he added. "Our chances-to-goals ratio has been healthy. We've been making very good use of our opportunities. That's what we have to do that on Thursday."
Yet the Royal Blues have great respect for the Sicilians. "We expect them to be very compact and extremely dangerous on the break", said Slomka, while Müller was impressed by Palermo's discipline in the first leg: "They operated as a very solid unit in every phase of the game."
But Slomka feels the visitors will be put to the test at the VELTINS Arena: "Palermo have to prove they can play at such a high level for a second time. In Serie A their away form hasn't been as good as their home form."
As far as team selection is concerned, the Schalke boss has already made up his mind in one position. Mimoun Azaouagh will again start in offensive midfield in place of the injured Lincoln. Slomka left the former Mainz player on the bench for the match in Palermo as it came just days after he had made his Bundesliga debut in Hannover. "At the time I didn't feel he was up to two matches in such a short space of time", he admitted openly. "But against Frankfurt he was much improved. He played very well and also showed more creativity."
The visitors will have the support of around 1,000 fans in Gelsenkirchen. Some 550 will make the journey from Palermo, while 450 Italians have purchased tickets in Germany.
