BERLIN, April 20 - Schalke 04 would rather qualify
for next season's Champions League than make it to the final of
the UEFA Cup, commercial manager Rudi Assauer said before the
first leg of the cup's semi-final against Sevilla on Thursday.
Fourth-placed Schalke have fallen four points behind Werder
Bremen with four matches left to clinch the spot that offers a
place in the Champions League qualifying round. They have won
three points from their last five Bundesliga matches.
"I'd trade that -- I'd rather play in the Champions League
next season than in this year's UEFA Cup final," Assauer told
German television before the match in Gelsenkirchen's sold out
arena. Schalke won the UEFA Cup in 1997.
They were knocked out the Champions League at the group
phase earlier this season.
Coach Mirko Slomka will leave playmaker Lincoln and Germany
striker Kevin Kuranyi on the bench because of the poor form of
two of his most important players. They were booed by Schalke
fans after leaving the pitch in Saturday's home draw against
relegation-threatened Cologne.
"Everyone has to put the team first and that includes
Lincoln," said Slomka. Lincoln refused to shake Slomka's hand
and brushed past his coach after leaving the pitch.