Tayfun Korkut: ‘It’s all about the club.’

In Friday night’s opening game on matchday 31 under floodlights (20.30 CET) between the Werkself and Schalke, Tayfun Korkut wants his Bayer 04 team “to be very focussed and extremely aggressive.”

The boss and his fellow coaches are completely satisfied with this week’s training sessions. “We’ve seen very aggressive training sessions. That’s a good sign. In our situation we need to drive each other forwards.” The BayArena could prove to be a key factor on Friday night. Korkut: “It’s our home game. I’m sure our fans will be behind us. But we have to make the first move. We have to show what we can do with our body language and with a lot of courage. Even if everything doesn’t go right against Schalke we have to show absolute desire on the pitch. Everybody has to give one hundred per cent.”

Speaking to the media at the press conference, broadcast live on Facebook and bayer04.de, Korkut emphasised the Werkself have to show “maximum passion” against Schalke: “There’s a lot at stake. It’s about the future. It’s all about the club. – That’s our clear message to the team. I’m assuming it’s been taken to heart. We don’t need any more declarations of intent and there are no more excuses. We’re playing the final games of the season. We have to pick up points for our club now so we can be settled for the coming weeks.”

Jonathan Tah return on the cards

Jonathan Tah is likely to return to the Bayer 04 squad. “All the players who are fit are an option,” declared Korkut. The head coach will decide on the squad on Friday morning after the final Werkself training session ahead of the game against Schalke. Korkut said: “I’ve had good experience of this as it keeps the players on their toes.”