Backdrop for the western clash - Thioune: "That will inspire"
Despite major personnel problems in the defense, Daniel Thioune is eagerly awaiting the western clash against FC Schalke 04 on Saturday evening (8.30 pm/Sky and Sport1). "The stadium is full and many Schalke fans will be there. That's cool and I think it will inspire all the players and maybe we'll leave the pitch as winners in front of a full house like we did a few weeks ago," said Fortuna's Düsseldorf head coach on Friday.
Thioune explained that he did not feel any particular pressure after losing two games in a row against Wehen Wiesbaden (1:3) and Greuther Fürth (0:1). "Two defeats won't make it any easier, but Schalke aren't in such a comfortable situation either," said Fortuna's coach. "It will be a challenging task, but the three points have to stay with us," demanded the coach, who has to replace three defensive regulars in Andre Hoffmann, Matthias Zimmermann and Jordy de Wijs.
Thioune is now relying on Tim Oberdorf and Jamil Siebert in the center of defense. "The loss of Hoffmann and de Wijs weighs heavily, but Oberdorf and Siebert have given us stability," explained the coach, who started 21 months ago in Düsseldorf with a 2:1 win against Schalke. Back then, the conditions were reversed. Schalke were at the top, Fortuna at the bottom. "That was also a very challenging task back then. That's a nice memory for me," said Thioune.
In preparation for the upcoming Bundesliga 2 match against FC Schalke 04, Fortuna Düsseldorf's head coach Daniel Thioune mentioned that playing in front of a full house at Schalke's stadium could inspire their players, just like their victory in front of a packed stadium a few weeks prior. Despite facing personnel issues in defense, Thioune mentioned that Fortuna Düsseldorf will aim to secure the three points in their challenging encounter against Schalke, who are also not in a comfortable position in the league.
Source: www.dpa.com
