Schalke's Keller clear on Steaua threat

Having faced his opposite number Laurenţiu Reghecampf on the pitch, FC Schalke 04 coach Jens Keller knows to expect a tough UEFA Champions League Group E test from FC Steaua Bucureşti. Equally, Reghecamp is clear about the visitors' potential: "I am 100% sure that Steaua can win."

Schalke
Jens Keller, coach
I don't see Steaua as outsiders in the group. Last year they won their Europa League group – they won games against Ajax and Chelsea. Chelsea are clear favourites in the group and we want to put in a good display, but every team here is capable of winning matches.

Since I came here, there have been plenty of matches we just "had to win". In the past two, three weeks we have done well. We have ironed out our mistakes from the opening days of the season. If we can repeat our performance level from the last two Bundesliga games, it will be very hard to take something from us.

I used to face Laurenţiu Reghecampf on the pitch, when he was at [FC Energie] Cottbus and [TSV Alemannia] Aachen. We even faced off directly on the pitch, me as left-back, him as right midfielder. I don't know him as a coach, only as a player, but when you look at the way his team play and what they have achieved, he has to be doing a very good job.

Weekend result
Saturday: 1. FSV Mainz 05 0-1 Schalke (Boateng 34) 
Hildebrand; Uchida, Höwedes, Matip, Aogo, Höger (Jones 69), Neustädter, Farfan (Meyer 90+1), Boateng (Goretzka 82) Draxler, Szalai.

• Both teams had problems breaking down the other's defence and consequently chances were few and far between. Kevin-Prince Boateng decided the game by seizing on a mistake in the Mainz back line for his first competitive Schalke goal.

Team news
Christian Fuchs and Felipe Santana are back, but Jermaine Jones is suspended and Tim Hoogland out of contention due to a pancreatic problem.

Steaua
Laurenţiu Reghecampf, coach
We are glad to be back in the group stage of the Champions League. We hope we can put in a good performance. We know what lies ahead of us tomorrow, a very difficult away game. But we have to think of our strengths and have come here to win.

Steaua have a very balanced squad, a strong team. I think if they take us lightly, they might be in for a surprise. It will be a hard fight. We want to extend our stay in the Champions League into the spring, maybe even win the group.

Of course, there is a great atmosphere at Schalke, especially in the Champions League. But we are not scared of the fans here, we have played in front of similar supporters and want to show our strength here.

I am indeed a coach who drives his team forward over and over again. Before the games [last season in the UEFA Europa League] I maintained that we were capable of beating Ajax and Chelsea and we did that. I am 100% sure that Steaua can win here tomorrow. Not will do, but can.

We are up against Schalke 04, a very strong side. I am not interested in their lineup that much, because we want to be able to play our own game. I imagine [Klaas-Jan] Huntelaar will not start, but I believe he will be brought on over the course of the game. We don't necessarily have to negate Boateng because Schalke are a unit, a real team on the pitch.

Weekend result
Saturday: Steaua 5-0 AFC Săgeata Năvodari (Piovaccari 4, Prepeliţa 20, Cristea 41, Kapetanos 72pen 82)
Tătaruşanu; Szukuła, Latovlevici, Gardoş, Filip; Prepeliţa, Bourceanu, Cristea, Stanciu (Popa 45); Iancu (Leandro Tatu 56), Piovaccari (Kapetanos 45).

• Cristian Tănase, Mihai Pintilii and Daniel Georgievski were rested after returning from international duty, but Steaua roared to victory regardless. Pantelis Kapetanos, making his first appearance since returning from CFR 1907 Cluj, became the first player to score twice on his Steaua debut since Ioan Tomeș in October 1961.

Team news
Aside from Alexandru Chipciu (still recovering from a knee complaint), Steaua have no injured players.

Match fact
• Steaua's 16 fixtures against German sides have ended W1 D6 L9. The lone victory came in the second leg of a European Champion Clubs' Cup first round tie against Borussia Dortmund on 8 December 1957. They have not beaten a Bundesliga team since, in 14 games spanning almost 56 years.