[Oliver_Kahn]

Schalke counting on fans against Leverkusen

In view of the current injury situation the support of the crowd has taken on crucial importance ahead of Sunday's clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

Things have been better going into a Bundesliga game. Not only are Gerald Asamoah, Ralf Fährmann, Soren Larsen, Peter Lovenkrands, Christian Pander and Gustavo Varela all missing through injury, but Levan Kobiashvili is suspended after picking up five yellow cards and Halil Altintop, Mladen Krstajic and Lincoln are also in doubt.

So now, more than ever, the Royal Blues are counting on the support of the fans. Mirko Slomka is hoping for a similar reciprocal effect to the one that was achieved in the home win over Hertha BSC Berlin. "The euphoria in the stands had a lot to do with our performance on the pitch. By showing aggression in the tackle and with our fantastic fans behind us we want to put Leverkusen under pressure and then step up this pressure with incredible determination", the Schalke boss said.

Slomka, incidentally, was the first Schalke coach to beat Bayer Leverkusen at the VELTINS Arena, the Royal Blues winning 7-4 almost a year ago to the day. The previous matches between the two have also been high-scoring affairs (3-3, 0-1, 2-3 and 3-3). "Of course I watched Leverkusen's game in Blackburn", said Slomka, delighted that his support for Schalke's Bundesliga rivals in Europe had helped. "Leverkusen's defence was very stable. Much of that was down to the return of Juan, who got top marks from me for his performance."

Schalke are the best home team so far this season, a record they are keen to defend. "Kevin Kuranyi is in great form. He's sure to get support from his attacking team-mates because our aim has to be to put Leverkusen under pressure by footballing means." It merely remains to be seen whether the 4-3-3 system that has been so successful in recent weeks will work again on Sunday. "The players we currently have available are more than capable. And we'll have to wait and see how the final training session goes", said Slomka. One decision has been made, though: "Hamit Altintop will start", the Schalke boss explained, though he didn't say in which position.

Despite all the injury worries Slomka is still very satisfied: "We're the only team who can win the league without worrying about what our rivals do."