GERMANY: SOCCER - Shalke coach confident ahead of Champions League opener against Valencia

Record ID: 1537817

  • Title: GERMANY: SOCCER - Shalke coach confident ahead of Champions League opener against Valencia
  • Date: 18th September 2007
  • Summary: (SP4) GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 17, 2007) (REUTERS) MIRKO SLOMKA, COACH OF FC SCHALKE 04 ARRIVING AT PRESS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES PANEL WITH SLOMKA AND SCHALKE 04 DEFENDER MARCELO BORDON SLOMKA TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) MIRKO SLOMKA, COACH FC SCHALKE 04, SAYING: "I think this squad is extraordinarily experienced in the Champions League. Especially as far as offensive play is concernded, we have very creative and strong strikers and on other positions there are very fast players. We will be ready for counterattacks. Perhaps this one will be a different match from the one in Munich where we were not that often in possession of the ball, perhaps that will change tomorrow. And then we will have to be effective." PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (German) MARCELO BORDON, SCHALKE 04 DEFENDER, SAYING: "You must not make many mistakes in the Champions League. Quality wise it is a completely different level. I think we are well prepared for this match."
  • Embargoed: 3rd October 2007 12:52
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA5XTOQD4KND4JPGEUHN4EBEVX4
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Shalke coach confident ahead of Champions League opener against Valencia.
    At a press conference on Monday (September 17) ahead of Schalke's Champions League match against Valencia, Schalke coach Mirko Slomka said he wanted his squad to perform as well against Valencia as they did against Bayern Munich at the weekend.
    "I think this squad is extraordinarily experienced in the Champions League and has, especially as far as offensive play is concerned, very creative and strong strikers and on other positions there are very fast players. We will be ready for counterattacks. Perhaps this one will be a different match from the one in Munich where we were not that often in possession of the ball, perhaps that will change tomorrow. And then we will have to be effective."
    Defense player Marcelo Bordon warned his team mates against too much euphoria from Saturday's draw against Bayern Munich.
    "You must not make many mistakes in the Champions League. Quality wise it is a completely different level" Bordon said, adding: "I think we are well prepared for this match."
    Schalke will play Valencia CF at 1845 GMT on Tuesday (September 17) while group B rivals Chelsea face Rosenborg from Norway Slomka told reporters that his side had the experience required to succeed in this years Champions League competition.
    "I think this squad is extraordinarily experienced in the Champions League. Especially as far as offensive play is concernded, we have very creative and strong strikers and on other positions there are very fast players." Slomka said.
    Schalke 04 lost their only previous Champions League home game against a Spanish team, going down 1-0 to Real Mallorca six seasons ago.
    Whilst Valencia, who have failed to win any of their last eight games against German teams, have lost on six of their last seven visits to Germany, including a 7-0 reverse to Karlsruhe in the UEFA Cup in the 1993-94 season.
    Their last win in Germany, a 2-1 win over Nuremberg in the Fairs Cup, dates back more than 40 years to 1966.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register