Will Schalke finish in Top 3?

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Although Schalke 04 signed no less than Albert Streit, Ze Roberto and Levan Kenia during the winter break, the mood in the Veltins Arena has remained surprisingly calm.

Gelsenkirchen, the home of FC Schalke 04, is not the current source of media attention as the season heads into the second leg. Which means Schalke have had an uninterrupted time to put all of their energy into preparing for the matches ahead.

In an interview with bundesliga.de, coach Mirko Slomka talks about the most recent developments for the Bundesliga runner up.

bundesliga.de: Mr Slomka, Schalke have just returned from training camp. How ready is the squad for the second leg?

Mirko Slomka: Our work was very productive. The two wins in training camp, against SC Freiburg and Werder Bremen, also show that we're on the right path. We want to play with a faster tempo and to counter better when that situation arises. And the team achieved both those goals in the two matches we played.

bundesliga.de: S04 was very active in terms of transfers during the winter break, signing Albert Streit, Ze Roberto and Levan Kenia. How do you plan to use the new acquisitions?

Slomka: Albert Streit is a player who is strong outside. His assist and passing ability is something other clubs in the Bundesliga have to plan for. He's one of the best at assists. Ze Roberto is very flexible and effective wherever he is on the field and he has great skills in one-on-one situations. He gave a good indication of his playing abilities in the friendlies. Levan Kenia will start by playing on our under-19 squad and then will move over the professional team in the summer. He has a lot of talent. As a midfielder, his technique is excellent, he's quick and versatile. He's only 17 and has already shown what he can do as a starter in international matches against Italy and Scotland.

bundesliga.de: What place will Schalke be in at the end of the season? Will you make a run in the second leg?

Slomka: We set ourselves a goal at the beginning of the season. We want to finish in the top three and qualify for the Champions League. Right now, we're three points out of third place. That's not a margin we can't make up.

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Schalke's goal is to finish in Top 3 in the league.

The question is: Can they achieve that? Will they finish in Top 3?

Vote on the poll, and drop a comment.

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I expect FCB to finish as first, with Bremen as number two.

I see Hamburg as a much stronger force than Schalke, and that's the reason I have voted NO, because I don't think they will finish third.

Leverkusen are a strong side also, so it won't be easy for Schalke, and they will most likely miss out on their target.

[Dragoen]

First will be either Bremen or Bayern. Third will be either HSV or Leverkusen. I don't really see that Schalke has a chance there plus I don't rate their new players very high espacially this new Striker. Schalke should be lucky to finish fourth. I think they will finish fith or sixth

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Dragoen

First will be either Bremen or Bayern. Third will be either HSV or Leverkusen. I don't really see that Schalke has a chance there plus I don't rate their new players very high espacially this new Striker. Schalke should be lucky to finish fourth. I think they will finish fith or sixth

agreeed they will battle with stuttgart and hannover for 5th place. Schalke has got champions league games and they are just a team that never does well against smaller clubs. Cottbus, bochum, frankfurt and their likes...

bayern and bremen will battle the first place between each other, hamburg 3rd and leverkusen 4th.

Schalke will only have a chance for the 3rd place if van der vaart gets a serious injury

[koker]

i think that Bayern will win the Bundesliga..Bremen will be 2nd and Leverkusen 3rd