Organisation and attack key for Di Matteo in first Schalke game

Former Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo finally takes charge of his first game as Schalke boss, following the international break, against Hertha Berlin, who are one place behind his new side in the Bundesliga.

The Swiss-born Italian replaces Jens Keller, who led the club to third last season, following a poor start to the campaign, which sees them down in 11th on eight points after seven games.

Di Matteo’s side go into this game as odds-on 8/11 favourites with Coral to win, having beaten the capital club in each of their last six meetings. The previous two scorelines finished 2-0, so back the Miners, as Schalke are nicknamed, to carve out another victory of that margin at 8/1.

The Gelsenkirchen club (100/1 chances to lift the Bundesliga) have also kept a clean sheet against Hertha in seven of their last eight matches, so back them at 13/8 not to concede again and 11/5 to win to nil.

It is not Schalke’s defence, though, that immediately impressed Di Matteo, who won the Champions League and FA Cup during his short spell at Stamford Bridge.

Prior to the upcoming Bundesliga battle, the 44-year-old said: “I watched some of Schalke’s matches and got some ideas. I think the attacking potential of the team is very big, but we have to improve our organisation.

“As I said, it’s always about the team. The players have to work for the team. In the squad there are some key players who have to help the team and give all their quality to the team and not just to themselves as an individual.”

So better organisation and the use of the talent in attack he has on offer is the key. Di Matteo has the likes of Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (who has hit four goals against Hertha), Cameroonian Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Julian Draxler, who has been heavily linked with a Premier League move, on offer. They are 5/6, 5/4 and 11/4 respectively in the anytime scorer markets.

Former Portsmouth and Spurs attacker Kevin-Prince Boateng (2/1), meanwhile, and young exciting German forward Max Meyer (7/4) can also be called upon.