Gerald Asamoah is currently in a training camp with FC Schalke 04 in Austria to lay the foundations for the upcoming season in the Bundesliga with the promoted team. The team manager of the licensed players’ team has now explained which main goals S04 is pursuing in Mittersill.
“For us, the core of the training camp is team building,” Asamoah revealed to “Sky” on Wednesday.
“Because we know what awaits us in the 1st league, we make sure that we come together as a collective, as a team,” said the 43-year-old, adding: “That’s why the training camp is extremely important for us to do that build whole.”
Asamoah believes that once the team has found itself, it could become the Royal Blues’ fist in the German football upper league. “We hope that we can then rock the league with it,” said the former striker, setting the course for the district club, which wants to stay up in the league.
However, the previous preparation was still mixed. Four days after a rather weak start in the local Parkstadion against SV Meppen (1: 3) there was a 0: 0 against the Italian first division side US Salernitana around ex-Bayern player Franck Ribéry in Austria on Wednesday.
While the S04 defense improved, the offensive was again too harmless. However, new coach Frank Kramer naturally made a lot of changes.
Asamoah: Against the top teams that are coming now, Schalke have to “deliver”
Asamoah described the currently too large selection – some players are still to be sold to slim down the squad – as one of the current problems. “You have to keep in mind that we have a large squad, so we have to look carefully: who do you use?” said the 43-year-old.
Asamoah sees the upcoming games (again) against Salernitana (Sunday, July 17, 4:30 p.m.) and a few days later against Twente Enschede (July 22, 8 p.m.) as endurance tests. “We know that the games will be groundbreaking for us. We simply have to deliver because we didn’t play so well against Meppen,” said the licensed player manager: “We have to deliver against the top clubs that are coming now and we have to deliver and do well present.”
Asamoah said of the reunion with his former Bundesliga colleague Ribéry: “Franck is a good player and I was allowed to play against him. I’m happy about that.” He also added with a laugh: “And he’s also become a bit nicer.”