FC Schalke need to keep up the pace to stay in the Champions League race. Here are three players who are most responsible for that task.
FC Schalke have seen the standard set by their near rivals, but they’ve also had a fortuitous turn below them. While Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich stomped their opposition and pulled ahead, Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen dropped points below.
Meaning that Schalke can create a nice cushion in the top five, which is what’s been needed. It wasn’t all that long ago that first and ninth place were separated by less than three points. Not a lot of comfort to be found there.
That said, Eintracht Frankfurt can jump right back into the race with a win, and Schalke are noticeably lesser at home, for whatever reason. As such, this is a big one, as Die Knappen have yet to show the dominance that Bayern or Dortmund have. They continue to fight and claw, but losing ground is a big risk at this stage, with the results around the league.
That said, we have the resources to make a statement, as our two dear rivals also did. Especially lately, with the attack really coming together. With the allure of Ahmed Kutucu potentially joining the gray, the potential is tantalizing.
Anyway, on to the three key players to keep the pace. We start with No. 3.
3. Ozan Kabak
You can’t win if you don’t defend, and with our three best centerbacks missing (although I may have to shuffle that list once everyone is back), Ozan Kabak yet again comes to the foreground. Which I am 100% okay with, because Ozan Kabak is a veritable stud who does every single thing well. And I’m not even exaggerating here.
As such, I have all the faith in the world that Kabak can continue to uphold his end of the defensive bargain, which is almost the entire end, and keep Frankfurt at bay. He’ll have Weston McKennie next to him, which isn’t ideal but again, these are two young players who we should have the utmost faith in.
On to No. 2.