Schalke’s Julian Draxler looking forward to Dortmund challenge - Bundesliga News
As the 2010/11 Champions League semi-finalists, Schalke, prepare for their local derby against Dortmund, Julian Draxler has already rated his team favourites against the Borussians. The midfielder wanted to nail down their arch-rivals in their own back yard
to go level on points with Bayern Munich.
Draxler was talking in the wake of his team’s important encounter against the reigning German champions, who are fresh from a 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League. Dortmund will play hosts to the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Royal-95-c40387 Blues on Saturday, November 26.
A win for Jurgen Klopp’s men will help them go atop the Bundesliga standings, but a loss would leave them two points adrift of both Bayern and the Royal Blues.
The midfielder opined that the Borussians must be under immense pressure especially after losing to Arsenal during the midweek. He reckoned it ‘a golden opportunity’ for his side to better Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park which would leave them with some food
for thought ahead of their next meeting against the Foals.
He told that his side certainly have the ability to outgun the reigning champions despite playing away from home. Draxler encouraged his teammates to press harder if they want to take advantage of their rivals, who must be low on confidence.
However, the teenager reserved sympathies for Dortmund’s injured duo of Mario Gotze and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 and were forced off the field inside the first half hour.
While talking to Bild, the midfielder further stated:
"I'm super-excited, burning to give everything against the arch-rivals. It's all I've heard from my classmates for days! My skin is tingling. For all the rivalry, health comes first. I think the strength of Dortmund is in the collective. They'll have plenty
of alternatives."
Schalke manager, Huub Stevens, was of the view that the midweek defeat won’t really hamper Dortmund’s chances of winning on Saturday. He believed that Jurgen Klopp’s men would be in much better rhythm and shape unlike his team who had a whole week off.
"Whether it's a good or bad thing that BVB played in the Champions League will only become clear after the match. It's not a bad thing to build up some rhythm and Dortmund are such a fit bunch that they can cope with competing on two fronts." Stevens concluded.
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