Fuente : UEFA (English)
http://www.uefa.com/

UEFA Football Europe:Schalke target title push

/noticias.info/ FC Schalke 04 want to end a 47-year wait by bringing the Bundesliga crown back to Gelsenkirchen this year.

Fine history
Schalke are traditionally one of the biggest clubs in the Bundesliga, having won seven German championships, four German Cups and the 1996/97 UEFA Cup in the course of their distinguished history. However, Schalke's last championship came in 1958 - before the modern Bundesliga even began five years later - and that is something the players will desperately want to change this season.

Bayern pull away
They came close last term, proving FC Bayern München's main rivals. Schalke beat Bayern in both Bundesliga meetings, but lost their way in the closing stages of the season and finished 14 points behind Felix Magath's side, though as runners-up earned a UEFA Champions League group stage berth.

Free transfers
This time around Schalke desperately want to push Bayern all they way and finally bring the championship back to the club. To that end, Schalke have again signed some big names in the summer. German international Fabian Ernst and Bosnia-Herzegovnian international Zlatan Bajramovic were both bought in on free transfers.

Talent arrives
Furthermore manager Rudi Assauer raided the kitty to sign German international Kevin Kuranyi in a €6.9m deal from VfB Stuttgart. And after Ailton announced his desire to join Besiktas JK, Schalke quickly agreed, accepted a €3m cheque and invested the money in young Dane Søren Larsen, who was tied on a four-year deal.

'Quality side'
With so much talent being brought in Schalke are certainly one of the favourites and it is a role that they are happy to accept. Ernst said: "I have come to Schalke because I want to win things. We have got a quality side and I am sure that we can win the title." Fellow new arrival Kuranyi added: "We have set our sights on a goal. I haven’t won a championship yet and I would love to do so at Schalke."

Lincoln incident
However, Schalke could have dealt their own chances a real blow in the German League Cup final, which they won 1-0 in Leipzig. Lincoln was sent off for spitting at VfB Stuttgart midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger and has been banned for four weeks. This means the influential playmaker, who has been the heart and soul of Schalke's game ever since signing from 1. FC Kaiserslautern last summer, will miss the first three Bundesliga matches of the season.

Magath statement
With Bayern coach Magath openly admitting that his side will not be in the best condition in the first few games of the campaign because of the fact that seven players were involved in the FIFA Confederations Cup and the club's pre-season trip to Japan, Lincoln might have even cost his side a golden opportunity to open up an early lead in the Bundesliga.

Discipline danger
Stuttgart midfielder Silvio Meissner, who was involved in a confrontation with Kuranyi during the same match, even insisted: "Schalke can feel the pressure and they are reacting to it already." Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick was quick to rubbish the veteran midfielder's opinion, but a lack of discipline could cost Schalke dearly and prolong their wait for their eighth German championship.
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