Nagelsmann: "We want to be dominant"

Julian Nagelsmann on…

…FC Schalke 04: "Schalke certainly aren't on a great run and won't be brimming with confidence. They've got their backs to the wall, but that can always bring dangers for opposing teams. We don't want to allow the game to get too emotional and hope we can perform as dominantly as we have in recent weeks. FC Schalke finished as runners-up only last season with a virtually identical team. So they still have a good side. We need to get the three points to keep up the pressure on the teams around us."

…the defeat last season: "We had a few issues with our build-up play last season. We basically scored two own goals. We were the better team and had more chances. I'm expecting this game to be better."

…the personnel situation: "Joelinton is making normal progress following his injury. He's still a way from re-joining team training. Lukas Rupp is settling back in very nicely but he was out for a long time. Dennis Geiger returned to team training yesterday. Robin Hack is ill. His chances of featuring again for us this season don't look great."

…the reasons for the upswing in form: "We're now much stronger at counter-pressing. Our ball possession has become more stable too. We've found a good mixture of defending high and deep. It can still get better, but we're on the right track."

…Huub Stevens: "Schalke is the club of his heart. I'm delighted to see that he's doing well again. There was not much of an in-depth exchange between the two of us back then. We had one longer meeting over breakfast and discussed the TSG squad at the time."

…an Ajax side co-coached by Alfred Schreuder reaching the Champions League semi-finals: "I've congratulated Alfred on reaching the semi-finals. I'm delighted for Alfred and the team. They've done extraordinarily well. It's great that they've reached the semi-final."

The social media fan question of the week:

How do you want to spend your last evening together with the players following the match in Mainz?

"On the evening of the final matchday, the club has planned a celebration but it is not connected with my departure. This event has always taken place in recent years too. There will be a certain point in time when I will hug my players and then they will all go on holiday. Then that'll be it."

The opposition's form:

They might have finished as Bundesliga runners-up last term, but this season has not been one to remember for the Royal Blues. A few weeks ago, boss Domenico Tedesco was sacked and replaced by former TSG Hoffenheim head coach Huub Stevens. With 29 rounds of matches played, Schalke sit 15th in the table on 27 points – six points clear of the relegation play-off place.

Head-to-head record:

The two teams have an even head-to-head record after 22 meetings. Both Schalke and Hoffenheim have claimed eight victories, while a further six matches have ended in stalemate. Last season, the Kraichgau club lost 2-1 away at Schalke, while the fixture in Sinsheim finished 1-1.