Dutch Football - UEFA Cup - FC Twente - McClaren: "Schalke's recovery is a matter of time"

"The intellectualisation
of football has
always foundered
on a simple problem-
-the players. Doing
all your most
rewarding thinking
with your feet seems
to dull the philo-
sophical impulse.
Unless, of course,
you are Dutch.
According to legend,
Europeans played
a moronic, muscular
version of the world's
game, until Holland
proclaimed its vision
of total football in the
1974 World Cup,
and enlightenment
dawned."

From:
Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football

McClaren: "Schalke's recovery is a matter of time"

Wednesday 03 December 2008

FC Twente coach Steve McClaren does not think his team will benefit from the crisis at tonight's opponents Schalke 04.

"The Germans have a good team and their recovery is only a matter of time. Let's hope they will delay that recovery a bit though," McClaren said.

On top the Englishman recognized a big advantage on the side of Schalke: "It should be clear that their coach Fred Rutten knows all the ins and outs of my players as he worked with most of them for two years."

Still the former England manager can dispose of a complete squad as he sees the game as another learning opportunity for his young team.

"Nowhere else will they learn so much as in games such as these. Of course we will aim to win the game. Reaching the next round would be a terrific achievement."

Three points should be enough for FC Twente to progress to the third round of the UEFA Cup and after tonight's game there is of course the away game to Paris Saint Germain where they can try and qualify.

Schalke, who play their last group game tonight in Enschede, have gathered four points, whereas Twente have three after their victory over Santander and defeat at Manchester City.