Teams | March 28, 2014 at 03:36 PM
Off to Schalke
Off to Schalke
On Friday (28.03.14) Hertha BSC play their third game within a week, this time away to Schalke 04.
Berlin - Hertha are in action for the third time in a week, as they take on Schalke 04 at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Friday evening (28.03.14, 8.30 pm). After losing their last two games against Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Bayern Munich respectively, the capital city side are hoping for a change in fortune against the Champions League qualification hopefuls. It goes without saying that the task is anything but easy - with 29 home points so far this season Schalke are third in the home form table: "Obviously we cannot afford to give them an inch", knows Hertha central defender Sebastian Langkamp, who is available for selection again after serving a one-match ban.
Because of the strain of playing three times within a week, training this week was designed to reduce the risk of injury. Christoph Janker and Adrian Ramos sustained slight knocks at home to Bayern on Tuesday night, but top scorer Ramos has made the trip to Gelsenkirchen with the squad. Hertha boss Jos Luhukay raised some eyebrows with squad selection as newly-crowned Bayern won the title prematurely in Berlin. The Dutchman at the time: "I have assembled a squad with which I think we have the best chance of success with. Apart from Adrian Ramos we have no other players who can make the difference in a game. Everyone else can be glad that he made the 18-man squad." He continued: "Expectations are too often put on players who do not feature. Now though every player has a chance to ply his wares at Bundesliga level. I don't make the decisions for me, but for the good of the team and club."
"There could be a surprise"
In order to return to successful ways, Luhukay's men need a dramatic improvement in performance. Ahead of the trip to Schalke the Hertha boss said: "We may spring a surprise, but then again we could end the week without any points." With so many men sidelined though injury it is hardly surprising that Hertha have struggled to reproduce their form before the winter break in 2014. Manager Michael Preetz: "On a good day we can take points off everyone in the Bundesliga except Bayern." The fact that Hertha face a team in form on Friday does not simplify the job at hand: "We face a team who have produced consistent performances and that successfully", said Luhukay.
After an up and down first half of the season, Schalke coach Jens Keller has brought much-needed stability to his side. They have only lost once since the winter break - against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich: "They will face us in confident mood. Schalke are a top side who this season are proving that they are rightly fancied to qualify for the Champions League next season", reckons Hertha's Langkamp. "We have played strongly at home over recent weeks and haven't lost here for a long time. We will produce another good performance against Hertha", confirmed Keller before the game.
Keller with major injury woes
Schalke are not to be envied with regard to the amount of regular first team players who are sidelined through injury: Aogo, Santana, Fuchs, Höwedes, Kirchhoff, Papadopoulos, Uchida, Clemens, Farfan and Höger are all unavailable for selection. Former Hertha man Kevin-Prince Boateng misses out against his hometown club through suspension. Keller fielded a side with an average age of 23,1 years against Braunschweig last time out - his youngest team for four years: "Until now the youngsters have seamlessly fitted in and are doing a fantastic job, but we cannot afford anymore injuries", knows the Gelsenkirchen supremo.
Luhukay concluded: "Over recent weeks we have learned just how tough the Bundesliga really is. We will try everything within our power to make the trip to Schalke a success." Recent successes have naturally boosted confidence levels at Schalke: "We are looking forward to the game and hope to take the next step towartds Champions League qualification", said Schalke right back Tim Hoogland this week.
Possible line-ups:
Schalke 04: Fährmann - Hoogland, Ayhan, Matip, Kolasinac - Neustädter, Goretzka - Obasi, M. Meyer, Draxler - Huntelaar
Hertha BSC: Kraft - Ndjeng, Langkamp, Brooks, Schulz - Hosogai, Skjelbred - Allagui, Ronny, Ben-Hatira - Ramos
Because of the strain of playing three times within a week, training this week was designed to reduce the risk of injury. Christoph Janker and Adrian Ramos sustained slight knocks at home to Bayern on Tuesday night, but top scorer Ramos has made the trip to Gelsenkirchen with the squad. Hertha boss Jos Luhukay raised some eyebrows with squad selection as newly-crowned Bayern won the title prematurely in Berlin. The Dutchman at the time: "I have assembled a squad with which I think we have the best chance of success with. Apart from Adrian Ramos we have no other players who can make the difference in a game. Everyone else can be glad that he made the 18-man squad." He continued: "Expectations are too often put on players who do not feature. Now though every player has a chance to ply his wares at Bundesliga level. I don't make the decisions for me, but for the good of the team and club."
"There could be a surprise"
In order to return to successful ways, Luhukay's men need a dramatic improvement in performance. Ahead of the trip to Schalke the Hertha boss said: "We may spring a surprise, but then again we could end the week without any points." With so many men sidelined though injury it is hardly surprising that Hertha have struggled to reproduce their form before the winter break in 2014. Manager Michael Preetz: "On a good day we can take points off everyone in the Bundesliga except Bayern." The fact that Hertha face a team in form on Friday does not simplify the job at hand: "We face a team who have produced consistent performances and that successfully", said Luhukay.
After an up and down first half of the season, Schalke coach Jens Keller has brought much-needed stability to his side. They have only lost once since the winter break - against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich: "They will face us in confident mood. Schalke are a top side who this season are proving that they are rightly fancied to qualify for the Champions League next season", reckons Hertha's Langkamp. "We have played strongly at home over recent weeks and haven't lost here for a long time. We will produce another good performance against Hertha", confirmed Keller before the game.
Keller with major injury woes
Schalke are not to be envied with regard to the amount of regular first team players who are sidelined through injury: Aogo, Santana, Fuchs, Höwedes, Kirchhoff, Papadopoulos, Uchida, Clemens, Farfan and Höger are all unavailable for selection. Former Hertha man Kevin-Prince Boateng misses out against his hometown club through suspension. Keller fielded a side with an average age of 23,1 years against Braunschweig last time out - his youngest team for four years: "Until now the youngsters have seamlessly fitted in and are doing a fantastic job, but we cannot afford anymore injuries", knows the Gelsenkirchen supremo.
Luhukay concluded: "Over recent weeks we have learned just how tough the Bundesliga really is. We will try everything within our power to make the trip to Schalke a success." Recent successes have naturally boosted confidence levels at Schalke: "We are looking forward to the game and hope to take the next step towartds Champions League qualification", said Schalke right back Tim Hoogland this week.
Possible line-ups:
Schalke 04: Fährmann - Hoogland, Ayhan, Matip, Kolasinac - Neustädter, Goretzka - Obasi, M. Meyer, Draxler - Huntelaar
Hertha BSC: Kraft - Ndjeng, Langkamp, Brooks, Schulz - Hosogai, Skjelbred - Allagui, Ronny, Ben-Hatira - Ramos