FC Schalke 04 - Page 51 - TalkSoccer

**Trim** · 15-03-2008, 08:43 AM

Mirko Slomka was a relieved man after seeing his side come from behind to beat MSV Duisburg.

The visitors took the lead midway through the first half through Bulgarian Blagoy Georgiev.

However, second half goals from Kevin Kuranyi and Heiko Westermann sealed an important three points for the Königsblauen.

“It was difficult for us to find the gaps” Slomka admitted. “After going behind, the fans naturally became unsettled.

“In the second half we wanted to do all we could to turn the game around and we managed to do that.”

Duisburg trainer Rudi Bommer on the other hand was left to rue what could have been after seeing his struggling side take the lead.

“In the first half my side were set up well and did well. We kept probing up front and were rewarded with the goal” he said.

“In the first 20 minutes after the restart we didn’t do enough and Schalke upped the pressure.

“We tried to get forward down the wings but lacked a bit of power. We should have been more courageous going forward in the last 20 minutes.”

Goal.com - Schalke - Slomka Relieved By Schalke Win

**Trim** · 21-03-2008, 10:32 PM

Bundesliga, Matchday 25 | PREVIEW
Hertha Berlin – Schalke

Sunday sees Lucien Favre’s Hertha Berlin take on Champions League quarter finalist Schalke. The capital club are down in 11th and are without the attacking prowess of star striker Marko Pantelic, who is a big loss to them as they so heavily.

The Königsblauen lie in fifth and will want to be careful that they don’t take their eyes off of the Bundesliga with the distraction of the Champions League games with Barcelona on the horizon. A top three finish is still within their grasp, and three points on Sunday would go a long way to help achieve this.

**Trim** · 23-03-2008, 06:23 PM

Hertha BSC 1 - 2 Schalke

11' [0 - 1] G. Asamoah
23' [0 - 2] J. Jones
67' [1 - 2] S. Chahed (pen.)

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Hertha Berlin 1-2 Schalke

Schalke moved level on points with Leverkusen and Werder Bremen with a deserved away win at Hertha Berlin.

The away side started the brighter of the two sides and took the lead after just 12 minutes. Christian Pander whipped in a free kick that found Gerald Asamoah unmarked in the centre. The German international headed in from close range to hand Schalke the lead.

That lead was then doubled on 23 minutes with Jermaine Jones getting his name on the scoresheet. Jones won the ball near the halfway line and advanced towards the Berlin goal. With nobody challenging him, the midfielder let fly from 16 meters to beat Jaroslav Drobny with a well placed shot.

The home side got themselves back in the game on 67 minutes with a penalty fired home by Sofian Chahed. Howedes was adjudged to have felled Kacar and the referee rightly pointed to the penalty spot. Chahed up and fired past Manuel Neuer to hand Hertha a lifeline.

Hertha Berlin: Drobny, Friedrich, Simunec, von Bergen, Chahed, Lustenberger, Kacar, Skacel (Okoronkwo 82), Ebert, Raffael, Andre Lima

Schalke: Neuer, Rafinha, Westermann, Howedes, Pander, Ernst, Jones, Grossmuller (Lovenkrands 73), Altintop (Sanchez 85), Asamoah, Kuranyi (Larsen 89)

Goal.com

**Vargas_4** · 23-03-2008, 10:00 PM

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Schalke trainer Mirko Slomka was left pleased with the three points gained by their away win at Hertha Berlin.

The Königsblauen have moved closer to the top three spot they crave in order to achieve Champions League football next season.

“We have never lost sight of our target of finishing in the top three. We know how good it is to play in the Champions League” Slomka said.

“We played very well in the first half but after the break it was clear that Hertha were going to be more offensive.

“At the end it was a really competitive game but in view of the whole 90 minutes, it was a deserved win for us” he added.

Hertha Berlin trainer Lucien Favre was left to rue the way his side began the game.

“We were asleep in the first 20 minutes, but then after that we played well. In the end it was 2-1 so we dropped a point” he said.

***

Goal.com - Schalke - Slomka: Top Three Still The Aim

**Trim** · 25-03-2008, 02:42 PM

Schalke general manager Andreas Müller fears a whole host of the club’s stars could walk out on them if they do not qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, full back Rafinha and striker Kevin Kuranyi are all wanted men and could seek a new challenge elsewhere should the Königsblauen not finish in the top three in this season’s Bundesliga.

Mirko Slomka’s side currently hold fifth spot after a 2-1 win at the weekend against Hertha Berlin, but they are just two points behind the current third placed team Hamburg.

The club are into the quarter finals of this year’s Champions League after beating Porto on penalties in the last round, but Müller fears this success will only make his players hungry for more of the same next season.

“We really have to try to get second place. If you finish third you can fail in the preliminary round and you will not get any decent new players” he told Bild.

“At the same time there is the danger that the likes of Neuer, Rafinha and Kuranyi will go if you don't play in the Champions League.”

Kevin Kuranyi has already intimated that he would seek a move if the club does not make it into next season’s competition. “What would then happen and whether I would still stay, I cannot say.”

The general manager has however promised investment in the team this summer regardless as to whether they finish in the top three.

“If we again make the Champions League, we want to buy two offensive reinforcements and go right to the financial limit.

“But we can still not afford €25million for a Franck Ribéry.”

Goal.com - Schalke - Schalke Boss Fears Mass Exodus

**Vargas_4** · 26-03-2008, 02:48 AM

I would be more than glad to take Neuer from Schalke

**Trim** · 27-03-2008, 03:24 PM

Bundesliga, Matchday 26 | PREVIEW
Karlsruhe – Schalke

How much of Schalke’s attention is focussed on their upcoming midweek Champions League quarter final with Barcelona remains to be seen, but a win away to Karlsruhe would go a long way to ensuring they are back in Europe’s Premier club tournament next year.

The Königsblauen currently lie fifth but are just two points behind second place Hamburg. The season is entering a crucial phase for Mirko Slomka’s men as they seek a top three finish. However, an away trip to the Wildparkstadion is no easy task, and Schalke will want to avoid a repetition of the 2-0 defeat they suffered earlier in the season at the Veltins Arena.

Karlsruhe themselves will still harbour dreams of a top six finish, but they have fallen away from the pace in recent weeks and currently sit ninth.

Just two wins in their last ten matches has contributed to this dip but they fought back well last weekend against Borussia Dortmund to secure a point. Edmund Becker’s side will be hoping that Schalke are a little preoccupied with the Barcelona Champions League tie.

**Trim** · 28-03-2008, 06:03 PM

Although Schalke trainer Mirko Slomka has given up hope of the Bundesliga title this season, he has his sights firmly set on a second place finish after their recent fine run of form.

The Königsblauen have won their last three Bundesliga matches and will be looking for a fourth at the weekend as they take on Karlsruhe. They are level on points will Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen and just two points behind second place Hamburg.

Last weekend’s 2-1 away win at Hertha Berlin has boosted their confidence and Mirko Slomka is hoping his side can build upon that result and fire them into second place.

“We need to put our opponents under constant pressure and force them into mistakes like we did in the first half in Berlin” he said at the pre-match press conference.

“So we'll have to be clinical when it comes to taking our chances. I expect my players to show the same kind of effectiveness they showed against Hertha” he added.

While conceding the title to Bayern, Slomka remains focussed on the runners up spot which is now within their grasp.

“The way I see it Bayern Munich have already got the league title sewn up, but the battle for the places below them is in full swing and as exciting as it's been in a long time.”

Schalke cannot afford to be dropping points at this stage of the season, particularly as they still have to play both Werder Bremen and Hamburg before the end of the season.

However, Slomka is fully aware of the challenge posed by the surprise package of the season- Karlsruhe.

“Not for nothing are Karlsruhe considered the best promoted side in years. They haven't been playing as well as they did earlier in the season, having won just one of their last seven, but that's irrelevant as far as I'm concerned. We can't afford to make the mistake of underestimating them.

“Karlsruhe get massive support from their fans. They create a really powerful atmosphere so it's up to us to impose our game on them.

“They always come out of the dressing room raring to go and have won quite a few games in the second 45. There must be no repetition of that on Saturday” he concluded.

Goal.com - Schalke - Slomka Targets Second Place

**Trim** · 29-03-2008, 05:18 PM

Karlsruhe 0 - 0 Schalke

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Karlsruhe 0-0 Schalke

Schalke earned a lucky point at Karlsruhe thanks largely to the home side wasting the goal scoring chances they had. KSC dominated the game for large periods, but were unable to translate that into goals.

Schalke, who perhaps had their upcoming Champions League tie with Barcelona on their minds, did however climb a place in the league thanks to the point and now lie third.

**Vargas_4** · 30-03-2008, 03:55 AM

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Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi admits that Barcelona is a side full of great players as the German team prepare to clash with the Blaugrana.

The two sides meet in the quarter finals of the Champions League next week and the German international is wary of Frank Rijkaard’s men.

“Barcelona are a team with plenty of great players,” Kuranyi told Sport ES.

“However we have good players too and we will try and match them on the night.

“We know that they enjoy playing possession football and we will have to attack them.

“They are very quick and have plenty of technique and we are aware of their threats.

“The most important thing to have a chance of going through is to stop them from scoring in the Veltins Arena.”

Kuranyi also spoke about Ronaldinho and the Brazilian’s recent drop in form.

“Ronaldinho? It’s difficult to understand what has happened to him. I am not there but I believe that the people and fans involved with the club should have more respect for what Ronaldinho has done for them.

“I can’t judge ‘Dinho but he is still one of the best players in the world.”

The Blaugrana are favourites to go through to the Semi Finals but it will not be an easy game in Germany.

***

Goal.com - Champions League - Kuranyi: Barca A Great Team

**Vargas_4** · 31-03-2008, 02:27 AM

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Barcelona will be without Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Deco for Tuesday's Champions League game against Schalke 04...

The two Brazilian-born players have been ruled out of the Quarter-final first leg match against Schalke 04 on Tuesday as they have not fully recovered from their injuries.

Despite training with the rest of the squad on Sunday morning, Deco is not 100% yet and will have to "continue to work to be available for the next game", according to the medical staff.

Concerning Ronaldinho's situation, the Brazilian ace has been out of action for several weeks, but Barcelona's medical staff guaranteed that he has been working on his personal recovery program.

Meanwhile, Barcelona confirmed that Gabriel Milito and Rafael Márquez will be eligible to play against the German squad after recovering from their respective injuries.

Eto'o Worry

The Cameroonian striker suffered a calf strain in the match against Betis on Saturday and remains doubtful for Tuesday's clash.

"The forward is having treatment and how he responds in the next few hours will influence whether he is available for the game," the medical staff explained.

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Goal.com - Spain - Ronaldinho And Deco Miss Schalke Match

**Vargas_4** · 31-03-2008, 02:28 AM

Schalke have to give it all if they hope to progress.

**Vargas_4** · 31-03-2008, 03:23 PM

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Schalke team manager Andreas Müller has urged his players to “live the dream” as they take on Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League quarter finals on Tuesday.

The German side welcome the Catalan giants to the Veltins Arena for the first leg looking to take advantage of a slight crisis at Barcelona and make the most of any loss of confidence with Frank Rijkaard’s team.

The Schalke manager acknowledged the difficult task ahead, but remains confident they can still cause an upset.

“Of course we have an unbelievably difficult task ahead of us, but our team has shown often enough that they can raise their performance against good opponents” he said.

“A quarter final against Barcelona is a dream and we have to live this dream” he added, in a rallying call to his team.

As a player Müller played once against Barca at the famous Camp Nou, but was unsuccessful. “Unfortunately then it didn’t work out. But as manager I am really looking forward to the game.”

The 45 year old Königsblauen team manager however does not want to make any comparisons with Schalke’s 1997 Uefa Cup final with Inter Milan, although he did admit that “an underdog is always in a position to bring the favourites to their knees.

“The lads are chomping at the bit ahead of this game. They will do everything and play with passion.

“The main goal is to create a good position for ourselves in the first leg, so we are in a position realise the miracle.

“Everybody has to give 100%. It’s also important that we make the most of the chances that come our way against Barcelona” he concluded.

***

Goal.com - Schalke - Müller: Time To Live The Dream

**Trim** · 31-03-2008, 04:41 PM

Schalke can do it!