Alonso ahead of #S04B04: Great football or hard work – only the win counts

"The last two weeks and the weekend without a game have done us good. The first week was quiet and we played a friendly against our U19 team. This week we focused on Schalke," said Alonso summing up the last two weeks of training in Leverkusen during the international break.

Schalke 04 "in a good phase"

The Spaniard is expecting passion from the hosts in Gelsenkirchen: "Schalke are in a good phase. They have a new coach (Thomas Reis, ed.) and therefore new ideas and new energy within the team. They are battling to stay up in every game," said Alonso who also highlighted the atmosphere at the Veltins Arena. "The fans at Schalke always provide a good atmosphere and get behind their team. It's fun to play there."

However, it is also clear to Alonso: "We want to win, no question. If we can play attractive football doing that – that's great. But if we have to work hard for a win that's great too and we can do that as well." In the game against the team next to bottom, the Spaniard is expecting "few goalscoring opportunities and lots of intensive challenges, which we will gladly take on." For his own team's game, the 41-year-old coach is looking for a good mix of "concentration and stability in defence but also making lots of runs up front with the right tempo when in possession."

All international players return fit

Xabi Alonso is able to count on all 13 players on international duty returning fit and well to Leverkusen. The Spaniard was also positive about defender Piero Hincapie, who played two friendlies with Ecuador in Australia: "We actually planned a longer recovery period for him but he has recovered quicker than expected and he feels great."

Alonso will have to continue to manage without Nadiem Amiri, who is making recovery from a groin injury, as well as the two long-term absentees Patrik Schick and Charles Aránguiz: "Both are feeling better but need more time. We can't say yet exactly when they will be fit again."

support the  Bayer Giants 

Lukas Hradecky and Co. will complete a final pre-match training session in Leverkusen before the squad sets off for the Ruhrgebiet with the team bus on Friday afternoon. 3,700 Werkself fans will be supporting the Werkself at the Veltins Arena on Saturday.

All Bayer 04 fans following the Werkself to Gelsenkirchen for the Bundesliga away game can buy tickets for the Bayer Giants home game at a reduced price of €5. The match for the second division basketball team against Dresden Titans starts at 19.30 CEST on Saturday evening at the Ostermann Arena in Leverkusen.