Hannover set to play against Schalke

Hannover 96 have decided against requesting the postponement of their match against Schalke, on Saturday following the death of goalkeeper and club captain Robert Enke last weekend.

Enke was buried on Sunday but his former teammates do not feel delaying their return to match action will help them as they try to cope following the 32-year-old Germany international’s suicide.

“We are travelling to Schalke to win there,” said midfielder Hanno Balitsch at a press conference on Monday.

Balitsch also revealed he and two physiotherapists at the club knew about Enke’s depression and they had “tried to support him, without abusing his trust”.

Balitsch explained: “Robert was not alone in the team but he had detached himself more and more recently.”

Arnold Bruggink will take over Enke’s role as captain, the club confirmed on Monday, and he knows Saturday’s trip to Gelsenkirchen is going to be an emotional occasion.

“It is not easy for me (to take over the captain’s armband),” he said.

“And when we step on the bus and see Robert’s place vacated, and when we go into the stadium on Saturday, then it will be hard.”

Florian Fromlowitz will be the man who will take Enke’s place in goal, like he did for six weeks while Enke was fighting a bacterial infection recently.

There is bound to be even more pressure on the 23-year-old, who, despite being Enke’s rival for a place in the team in the past, had always enjoyed a friendly relationship with his team-mate.

“He knows that we are there for him and we will support him whatever happens,” promised Bruggink.