Schalke coach Jens Keller faces a defensive injury crisis for the Champions League opener at Chelsea with captain Benedikt Howedes joining a lengthy list of absentees.
- Howedes hopes Schalke can rise to Chelsea challenge
Howedes, 26, did not travel to West London for Wednesday's Group G clash at Stamford Bridge due to a hip problem.
And the Germany international's absence gives Keller further cause for concern against a Chelsea team he believes is stronger than the side of last season, which recorded two 3-0 victories over his men.
"Of course it's very difficult if you lose your captain,'' Keller told a news conference. "Central defence for us is also a very difficult situation. We'll just have to put four players into the back four. We've still got a bit of time to think about what our solutions are and what options we have.
"I don't know how long he'll be missing, but he is a very important player for us. He's very confident now, having won the World Cup. We've got lots of games ahead of us, two games a week, so we hope that it won't be too long.''
Schalke defender Dennis Aogo added: "We've got quite a few players missing. It's not easy. We've got to try to compensate and cope with that situation.
"We can't just sit here and be sorry for ourselves. The players on the pitch have to take on more responsibility. We're playing against some of the best players in the world here, so we don't really need any extra motivation.''
In the absence of Howedes, Schalke must bid to hold off a free-scoring Chelsea side with a 100 percent record at the top of the Premier League.
And Keller, who also revealed that Jan Kirchhoff could return from injury, believes Chelsea will go far in this season's Champions League after reaching the semifinals last term.
"We've learnt that mistakes get punished. We learnt that home and away last season," he said. "They're a top team and now with the new acquisitions they're even more of a top team.
"I think that Chelsea will definitely have a say in this competition. They're a very, very good team. They showed that last season and this season they'll be way up there.''