Keller hails Bastos impact

Schalke head coach Jens Keller has revealed new signing Michel Bastos has surprised him at training and could start against Greuther Furth.

Bastos has joined Schalke on an 18-month loan deal from Lyon and did enough at Wednesday’s training session, his first with the Bundesliga club, for Keller to consider him for a starting berth on Saturday.

Schalke have notched a win and a draw since the Bundesliga resumed after its winter break and another victory against Furth, who are last on the table, could see Keller’s side move up one position to fifth.

“The impression he (Bastos) made yesterday was surprisingly good, that isn’t normal when you train with a new team,” Keller said on Thursday.

“He didn’t know the squad and our processes so he impressed us even more.

“So after all that it is possible that he will play on Saturday.

“He is good in shape and played a few games for Lyon.

“He did the entire preparation with Lyon so he is absolutely fit, so he could be a starter on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt has argued that although Pep Guardiola’s decision to join Bayern Munich as head coach next season shows the Bundesliga interests the world’s top managers and players, German clubs should not get carried away with recruitment.

Heldt believes Bundesliga clubs should continue to work within the culture of financial prudence that has defined German football in the past decade.

“I think the attractiveness of the Bundesliga is higher than ever, also for the foreign players,” Heldt said.

“That’s the way I see it and of course it is useful to plan conservatively.

“You can see that at many football clubs all over the other European leagues that they’ve bought players regardless of the consequences which now gets themselves into disasters.

“I believe the German clubs do that the exact correct way now and don’t act beyond their means, especially in respect of the financial fair play, this is very advisable.”