Schalke 04 vs SC Paderborn 07 preview - Brighter days to come - Di Matteo - 7M sport

Schalke 04 vs SC Paderborn 07 preview - Brighter days to come - Di Matteo



Posted Friday, May 15, 2015 by PA

Schalke coach Roberto Di Matteo has predicted a "rosy future" for the club, even if they risk missing out on a place in Europe next season.

The Royal Blues host Paderborn on Saturday needing a win to be sure of remaining inside the top six and on course for a place in the Europa League.

For a side used to playing in the Champions League, even that would be a step down from their usual standards, but Di Matteo insists things are looking up in Gelsenkirchen.

"We may have blown it this season, but we still have a rosy future," Di Matteo said, admitting that they must still be careful they do not slip out of the top seven.

"The situation is clear, though. We've got to win. That is all that counts."

Schalke showed a ruthless edge earlier this week by showing Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sidney Sam the door, and suspending Marco Hoger until Sunday.

Di Matteo did not want to touch on those measures, though, saying: "We've just got to look forwards.

"Our overall priority has got to be to get the points, then it could be a good weekend for us."

It might be a bad weekend for Paderborn, on the other hand, if they fail to come away from the Arena AufSchalke with something.

Defeat could all but mathematically see the East Westphalians relegated, although defender Uwe Hunemeier insists they will not go down without a fight.

"We're united and we share just one goal which nobody thought possible, and that is to stay up," he told bundesliga.de.

"All of the experts before the season started had written us off and now we want to draw on the mental strength we gained from our promotion year to create a sensation."



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