Schalke vs Bayern Munich - Breitenreiter and Guardiola urge focus ahead of Schalke-Bayern Munich meeting

Posted Sunday, November 22, 2015 by PA

Schalke coach Andre Breitenreiter says the focus must return to football when his side host Bayern Munich on Saturday evening.

The German national team were playing France in Paris last Friday when a spate of attacks around the city, including in the vicinity of the Stade de France, killed at least 129 people, with the world champions spending the night inside the stadium.

Germany's friendly against Holland in Hannover was then called off on Tuesday due to a terrorist threat, so this weekend's Bundesliga matches will be played with increased security.

The Arena AufSchalke will be a full house when the Bavarians visit the Royal Blues and Breitenreiter wants the majority of those fans to go home happy, and above all safe.

"The terror attacks in Paris and the called-off international in Hannover have of course been an issue within the team and we have spoken about it," Breitenreiter said at a press conference.

"There is still an uneasy feeling, but I have total faith in the security measures."

His only concern is how to beat a Bayern side who have yet to lose in the Bundesliga this season.

"Bayern are one of the best teams in the world with plenty of individual quality, and every mistake you make against them is punished ruthlessly," he said.

"We've got to put our heart and passion into it and try to play an almost flawless game.

"Eintracht Frankfurt and Arsenal have shown that it is possible [not to lose to Bayern] and we are definitely really motivated for this game.

"My players have been very focused in training."

Breitenreiter is without the suspended Johannes Geis, but German defender Benedikt Howedes is available and can play with a metal plate in his hand.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola echoed Breitenreiter's call for focus after last Friday's incidents, adding that he had spoken with the German contingent of Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Manuel Neuer, as well as France's Kingsley Coman, all of whom were present at the Stade de France last week.

Like his opposite number, Guardiola has also therefore been focusing on the task in hand.

"Schalke's recent results may not have been good, but that makes them all the more dangerous," he said.

"Their league position does not tell us anything because they have got the quality and we were unable to beat them last season.

"We're going to have to read the game in the first five minutes and adjust ourselves accordingly."

Franck Ribery is still sidelined for Bayern, but he may make a comeback before the winter break.

Guardiola is not planning on resting anybody who is fit, however, saying that with the winter break approaching, he expects his players to focus all of their efforts into this one final push before the new year.