FC Schalke predicted XI: Borussia Dortmund and the Revierderby await

GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 20: Weston McKennie of FC Schalke 04 looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Schalke 04 and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at Veltins-Arena on September 20, 2019 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 20: Weston McKennie of FC Schalke 04 looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Schalke 04 and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at Veltins-Arena on September 20, 2019 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Bongarts/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

Central Midfield

Despite David Wagner’s willingness to change things up and move pieces around, he clearly has a favorite central midfield pairing, and that is Omar Mascarell and Weston McKennie. There’s no reason to flip the script now. These two can dominate a midfield. Despite all the annoyances against Hoffenheim, I can still picture the immaculate slide tackle from Mascarell, and that’s what we’ve come to expect out of him.

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McKennie was missing last week due to a minor injury, but assuming he is healthy again, he absolutely cannot be left out in any Revierderby… ever. This is a young man who understands the pressure and thrives in it. Maybe he gets a bit overzealous at times, but that comes from a place of wanting to own the entire game.

Rather that than a diminutive presence who shies away from the spotlight.

It’s Axel Witsel on the Dortmund side who will be the primary threat to Mascarell and McKennie establishing midfield control, but for as sturdy as Witsel is, the resourcefulness and boundless enthusiasm of our midfield should be enough to capture this theater of play. Especially with the home crowd support.

These two will also be tasked with the all important transition into attack. But more on that later. First, let’s talk wide midfielders.