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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Andy Brassell

Schalke get knocked down, but get up again to show they are no joke

Schalke players salute the home faithful after their 2-2 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach
Schalke players salute the home faithful after their 2-2 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Photograph: Thilo Schmülgen/Reuters

If you’ve got an early chance to nail your colours to the mast and make a good impression with your new fans, you have to take it – and that’s exactly what Nico Schlotterbeck did. Earlier this week, shortly after making his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Dortmund, the young Germany centre-back was a guest on a chat show on the club’s in-house television channel in front of a live audience.

The Sky presenter Sebastian Hellmann, Schlotterbeck’s fellow panellist, mentioned an upcoming assignment at Schalke’s game with Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Top-Spiel (top game) of the second weekend of the league season, in the prime Saturday early evening, 6.30pm kick-off slot. “They have Top-Spiel in Schalke?” Schlotterbeck wryly chipped in, naturally bringing the house down with a ribbing of BVB’s local rivals.

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