Nagelsmann ahead of Schalke: "End on a high"

Julian Nagelsmann on...

... the opposition.

Schalke are a very good team with some excellent individual players. They will throw everything at us because of their Europa League battle.

... the personnel.

Niklas Süle has a small muscular injury on the bottom of his foot. We will have to wait and see whether he trains or not. At the end of the day we don’t want to take any unnecessary risks. I would be very pleased if he played. Philipp Ochs will stay with the U19s and help them try and clinch the title.

... the situation

The situation is of course different to previous weeks, but the closer we get the more the tension grows. We are all professionals and want to win whatever the match. We also want to keep our good run at home going and end on a high after a disappointing match in Hannover.

Our survival is no miracle. It is the result of a lot of hard work. We believed in ourselves, executed out plan well out on the pitch and enjoyed a bit of luck here and there.

I thanked everyone in the team last Wednesday for all the hard work they have put in. They have done so much for the club, the fans and for me. The fans know this too. In recent home matches the whole stadium has stood up for the final ten minutes, which is something very special. These are moments, as well as the late goals we have scored, that I will never forget.

Record:

TSG and S04 have met each other 16 times competitively, and the balance so far has been even. Both sides have claimed six wins, and there have been four draws. At home, TSG have the advantage as they are unbeaten in their last seven matches (3 wins and 4 draws).

The opposition's form:

Schalke have won just one of their last six matches - 3-1 against Hannover. The sky over the Gelsenkirchen side is not its usual glorious Royal Blue. Breitenreiter’s side still have Europa League in their sights but missed out on a fourth-place finish after drawing 1-1 against Augsburg last Saturday. A win against TSG would see them secure direct qualification to the Europa League, a cause worth fighting for.

The key battle:

Hoffenheim playing without pressure vs. Schalke’s need to win. TSG have secured their top-flight status, and the final match is all about putting on a show for the fans. Important no doubt, but the big pressure of the last few weeks has finally been lifted. Schalke on the other hand need all three points, as two Europa League play-off ties wouldn’t be greeted all too enthusiastically by the fans.

 

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