Schalke 04 seek to impress in Philadelphia

The Royal Blues landed safe and sound in the USA. Head coach Huub Stevens and Jermaine Jones arrived in the United States ahead of the rest of the squad. Both took part in a press conference at the PPL Park stadium of the MLS team Philadelphia Union ahead of Wednesday’s friendly (9 May, 1930 local time / 10 May, 0130 CET). Huub Stevens looks forward to game at PPL Park.|Copyright: FC Schalke 04The Royal Blues head coach is looking forward to the match against the US league side coached by former Bundesliga player Piotr Nowak (including 1860 Munich and Dynamo Dresden). “We’ve had a successful season in the Bundesliga. Now we want to round off the campaign with the match in Philadelphia, ” explained Stevens at the pre-match press conference. And the boss promised: “We’ll put out our strongest possible side.” The Dutchman is planning to play Raul, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jermaine Jones, the USA international defender. “If the lads are fit, then they’ll play. We want to show the best side of FC Schalke 04 and the Bundesliga,” he added. Schalke will have to make do without the services of Benedikt Höwedes and Julian Draxler in Philadelphia as both players have been selected for the Germany preliminary squad for EURO 2012. Kyriakos Papadopoulos (rehab) did not travel to the USA. Regular first choice Jefferson Farfan is also missing. But for a positive reason: The Peru international will shortly be a father for the second time. Top player for Schalke and the USA national side: Jermaine Jones.|Copyright: firo sportphotoJermaine Jones can hardly wait for the match in the USA but he is not taking the opposition for granted. “As a footballer, you always want to do your best and win,” declared the midfielder, who is well aware of the popularity of the Bundesliga in the United States. “With the national coach Jürgen Klinsmann coming from Germany, Bundesliga football is being followed more intensively. Another reason is the number of USA internationals playing in the German top flight.”