Schalke captainlets rip

SCHALKE captain Marcelo Bordon has questioned the commitment of his team-mates ahead of tonight’s Champions League last-16 clash at Porto.

It has not been an easy few weeks for the Gelsenkirchen side, who have lost three Bundesliga games in a row, and Bordon’s comments are indicative of a team lacking spirit.

“Maybe this is a good situation for us,” Bordon said. “Now we see who the team can rely on and who it cannot. Everybody has got to ask themselves what percent they have been giving. I am not the type to criticise individual players, but those I am talking about certainly know for themselves that they have not given 100%.”

They hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg a fortnight ago and desperately need to make history in reaching the quarter-finals.

“We have now got to concentrate rather than talk about everything which is going on around us here, otherwise we are dead.”

Kevin Kuranyi is set to be deployed as a lone striker instead of Gerald Asamoah and Vicente Sanchez with Albert Streit coming in at midfield.

Meanwhile, Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma has called on his team-mates to show the “real Porto” in tonight’s tie

He said: “This game is massive for us and all the Portuguese people, who surely will want to see a Portuguese side fighting in the Champions League. We’ll have to play like the real Porto, with nerves of steel and fiery spirit.

“The first game didn’t go well for us, but in the Dragao we’ll be in charge. We’re very strong and we’re going to go through. We have all we need to make this happen. The important thing is not to get anxious and to treat this side with care.”

With Quaresma back to full fitness coach Jesualdo Ferreira has no injury worries to concern him. Therefore captain Pedro Emanuel, Jose Bosingwa and Lisandro Lopez return to the squad after sitting out last Saturday’s derby with Boavista.