Keller wants fewer mistakes

Schalke coach Jens Keller says his team must cut out mistakes if they are to get anything from their Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich.

Keller’s men will travel to Allianz Arena on Saturday without star forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who is ruled out with an eye injury.

Sitting sixth after a surprise loss to Greuther Fuerth, Keller said Schalke need to stop making mistakes if they were to earn points.

“We have to minimise our individual mistakes. As I said yesterday, at the bottom line, we’d admitted Fuerth just four shots on our goal,” he said.

“Unfortunately these few mistakes become punished. So primarily, we have to switch off these mistakes.”

Keller is unsure how long prolific Dutchman Huntelaar will be sidelined, but ruled him out of the crucial clash against Bayern.

The challenge of taking on the runaway Bundesliga leaders excites Keller, who is eager for his team to test Jupp Heynckes’ men.

“We won’t travel to Munich and say we are agreeing with the loss. We’ll do our best,” Keller said.

“But Bayern Munich is one of the best teams in Europe. So, it won’t become easy. However, we’ll take up this challenge.”

Schalke general manager Horst Heldt said he was confident his team could turn around what has been a disappointing campaign.

“We have the ability to turn the tide in our favour. We have the quality and we are convinced that we’ll accomplish,” he said.

“Because Jens and I, we know the team very well. After conversations with the players, we feel the players will (turn it around).”