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Berlin (dpa / lnw) - Hertha BSC wants to play the development opponent for FC Schalke.

Coach Bruno Labbadia is not afraid that the Royal Blues, who have not won 29 games in the Bundesliga, could end their horror record in the Berlin Olympic Stadium.

“I never go into a game with fear, but with optimism.

The respective opponent must fear his series himself, "said Labbadia on Wednesday in a digital press conference.

"It is much more important that the desire to win is greater than the fear of losing," said the Hertha coach before the game this Saturday (6.30 p.m. / Sky).

Against the bottom of the table with four points, the coach of table 14 expects.

but a “hotly contested game”.

His explanation: "At Schalke we have to differentiate between the standings and the players' own quality."

The 54-year-old warned of the opponent, who in Christian Gross already has the fourth coach on the sidelines this season.

"After a coach change, the team is always difficult to assess," said Labbadia.

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Against Schalke, Labbadia will still have to do without Santiago Ascacibar as well as Matthew Leckie and defender Dedryck Boyata.

The 30-year-old Belgian could replace Niklas Stark, who last played in front of the defense.

With the 25-year-old and Jordan Torunarigha, a left and a right foot would form the defense center.

Attacker Jhon Cordoba, who returned to team training at the beginning of the week, could be an option against Schalke, albeit not for 90 minutes, as Labbadia emphasized.

"You can tell that Jhon has not been on the pitch for two months."

Hertha BSC website