Football
9y

Schalke boss Roberto Di Matteo: We need to climb back up the table

Roberto Di Matteo has said he is looking forward to his first match as Schalke coach as his side take on Hertha Berlin on Saturday.

Former Chelsea manager Di Matteo succeeded Jens Keller earlier this month and is desperate to help push Schalke up the Bundesliga table.

After seven league games, the Royal Blues have picked up just eight points and sit 11th -- one place above Hertha, who also have eight points.

"The boys aren't happy with our amount of points so far. We want to move up the table as quickly as possible," Di Matteo told a news conference.

The Italian's start to life at Schalke was hampered by a number of players departing for international duty, although he did use the time to get to know those that stayed behind.

"The players that stayed here trained very hard and very well," he said. "But it's also clear that, when there's a new manager, everyone starts on a level playing field and wants to prove themselves. The Bundesliga isn't new for me any more and now I know my way around."

Di Matteo explained that he would not be able to turn things around immediately and asked the supporters for patience.

"We have to take it step by step to get better bit by bit. We can't do everything at once," he said. "We have a lot of potential going forward, but we'll have to work on a few things in terms of organisation."

Di Matteo said he hoped to have Julian Draxler available for Saturday's clash, despite the midfielder picking up a knock in Germany's 1-1 draw with Republic of Ireland on Tuesday.

"We'll have to wait for the final training session and then we'll know more," he added.

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