Schalke manager Ralf Rangnick still looking for goals despite holding 5-2 first-leg lead over Inter Milan
Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick wants his team to dominate the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against holders Inter Milan as much as they did the first, which they won 5-2 at the San Siro.
Feeling confident: Ralf Ragnick was feeling understandably confident ahead of the visit of Inter Milan thanks to his team's 5-2 first-leg lead Photo: AFP/ GETTY IMAGES
By Telegraph staff and agencies 7:27PM BST 12 Apr 2011
Rangnick has injected a winning mentality since taking over, following the triumph in Italy by erasing the club’s Bundesliga relegation fears with a win against Wolfsburg last weekend.
“We are leading 5-2 at half-time. Now we have to go out and be equally dominant as in Milan. We will play as if it is 0-0,” said Rangnick, who took over late last month after his predecessor, Felix Magath, had steered Schalke to the last eight.
Inter became the first team defending the European Cup to concede five goals in a match home or away, adding to the pressure on coach Leonardo, the second man in the hot seat since José Mourinho after Rafa Benitez’s departure in December.
Schalke have won all of their three games under Rangnick and the 52 year-old said they could triumph again as they attempt to reach their first Champions League semi-final.
“We are very near,” he said. “Inter have a great offence but are vulnerable at the back. Because Inter will come out attacking we will have spaces. We want to use them.”
Defender Benedikt Höwedes said: “We have taken a lot of confidence from our win against Wolfsburg. Now we have the necessary calm for the game against Inter.”
Hoewedes is again expected to be partnered in central defence by rookie Joël Matip instead of former Germany international Christoph Metzelder.
Rangnick will likely use 19-year-old defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos in a holding midfield role just as he has done in the past two matches, while Brazilian Edu, who scored twice in the first leg, should again partner Raul up front.
Inter restored some pride after an awful week by beating Chievo 2-0 in Serie A on Saturday but the holders know they have a difficult task in Gelsenkirchen.
Striker Samuel Eto’o has not given up hope though, according to coach Leonardo.
“Inside I believe that anything is possible,” the manager said. “I believe it and the players believe it too. Eto’o perhaps believes it more than anyone.
“He has plenty of comeback tales and he has played a part in lots of them. He told us all about them and they were great to hear.”
Inter’s Argentina defender, Walter Samuel, has been included in their squad after missing the last five months because of a cruciate ligament injury.
Doctors had expected the centre back to be out for the season after reconstructive surgery but the 33 year-old, who suffered a similar problem in 2007, has quickly recovered having collapsed to the ground in agony against Brescia in November.
Playmaker Wesley Sneijder was included in the squad despite a bout of flu Cristian Chivu, sent off in the 3-0 derby loss to AC Milan earlier this month, is banned following his red card in the first leg but Lucio is available after serving a European suspension.
Schalke (probable, 4-4-2): Neuer; Uchida, Hoewedes, Matip, Sarpei; Jurado, Farfan, Papadopoulos, Baumjohann; Edu, Raul.
Inter Milan (probable, 4-3-1-2): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Ranocchia, Nagatomo; Zanetti, Motta, Cambiasso; Stankovic; Eto’o, Milito.
christoph metzelder, felix magath, rafa benitez, san siro, telegraph staff, ralf rangnick, inter milan, central defence, papadopoulos, second man, hot seat, mourinho, relegation, three games, midfield, bundesliga, champions league, mentality, offence, predecessor online
No comments:
Post a Comment