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Schalke coach Roberto di Matteo was thrilled with how his undermanned side prevailed 1-0 against Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday.
Schalke coach Roberto di Matteo hailed his team's start to the second half of the Bundesliga season, after they moved into third spot in the standings with a win over Borussia Monchengladbach.
Tranquillo Barnetta scored the only goal of the game in Schalke's 1-0 triumph at home, which was also their first win over Gladbach in four matches.
The victory took Schalke to 34 points, one ahead of Gladbach and replacing Lucien Favre's men in third in the Bundesliga, while it continued the unbeaten resumption for Di Matteo's men, who have faced Hannover and leaders Bayern Munich in their previous two games since the winter break.
Di Matteo has been pleased with how his side has handled the absences of the likes of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (suspension), Julian Draxler (hamstring) and Jefferson Farfan (thigh).
"We're missing a lot of players at the moment but we don't want to complain," the coach told Schalke's website after the win.
"Every single individual out there on the pitch tonight gave their all to get the three points. I'm proud of the boys.
"We can be very happy with our start to the second half of the season. We've picked up seven points against three strong opponents."
Di Matteo added: "We're delighted with the win. Monchengladbach are a very tricky side to play against and Schalke have struggled against them of late. Previous results against Borussia haven't exactly been positive.
"Fortunately, things were different this time. We were very well organised, hardly allowed anything through and scored the decisive goal. Our team showed a real desire to win."
While Schalke extended their unbeaten run to five games, Gladbach's perfect restart - they had defeated Stuttgart and Freiburg before travelling to Gelsenkirchen - ended thanks to Barnetta's 10th-minute strike.
The Swiss midfielder timed his run perfectly to get on the end of Kevin-Prince Boateng's cross from the right, volleying the ball home from inside the six-yard box.
"When you don't allow many chances, it becomes very difficult for the opposition," Barnetta said.
"I was glad to be able to show what I can do once again. The head coach gave me a chance and I have repaid his faith in me by scoring the winner."
Arjen Robben continues to win high praise from Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola after another star turn in the 2-0 win over Stuttgart.
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola believes the quality of star winger Arjen Robben was once again the difference in his side's 2-0 win over the bottom-of-the-table Stuttgart on Saturday.
A sluggish start to the second half of the season has seen the Bundesliga champions come under fire over the last few weeks and although they were not at their best at the Mercedes Benz Arena, they still did enough to ensure a return to winning ways.
Robben scored the opener with a fine strike just before half -time and then David Alaba added a second just after the break with a superb free-kick, keeping the leaders eight points clear at the top of the league.
Guardiola was in no doubt that Robben's opener was the catalyst for win, although he still appeared mindful of the weaknesses of his side, which were emphatically exposed in a 4-1 humiliation by second-placed Wolfsburg last week.
He told reporters: "Robben's quality was the difference today. It was a tough match.
"As always, my team did a lot of running and fought hard. However, we we're not perfect. There are things we can improve.
"We should be doing less running and using the ball more."
While Bayern's performances may have been inconsistent since the winter break, one constant that has pleased Guardiola throughout the whole season has been the contribution of Alaba.
He added: "David is always fit. He is one of the most important players in our team."
Jurgen Klopp knows Borussia Dortmund still have plenty of work to do to pull away from trouble in the Bundesliga after beating Freiburg 3-0.
Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Kopp insists his side will not be getting carried away after Saturday's convincing 3-0 win over Freiburg moved them off the foot of the table.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the hero for the visitors, scoring twice and setting up another on what was a largely comfortable afternoon, easing the pressure on the under-fire Klopp.
A shocking season has seen the 2013 UEFA Champions League finalists find themselves in a surprise relegation battle, with the 47-year-old boss forced to dismiss talk of him stepping down at the club after the defeat to Augsburg on Wednesday.
And Klopp was delighted with his side's response at Freiburg.
"We did well from the beginning, put pressure on the opponent and managed to upset the self-confidence of Freiburg," he told the club's official website after the game.
"The bad pass for the 1-0 allowed us to squeeze in and make a goal, which served us very well.
"It was important to stay active and stable and we deserved a win."
Klopp stated before the game that he was in no doubt that his team would avoid the drop and his post-match assessment suggests that he will be expecting more from his players over the coming weeks, hinting that attention has already turned to game against his old club Mainz on Friday.
He added: "It is not enough for the team to believe in my words, they must believe in themselves. We had a good game, but didn't take every opportunity.
"I do not run the risk of overestimating victories. I told the team they cannot be relieved about today, but to celebrate appropriately. Today we are at peace with ourselves.
"We must not forget that we have to go again on Friday against Mainz.
"Just because we won does not mean we will win the next four games. We should stay at it and believe in ourselves."
Andre Schurrle laughed off suggestions he and new Wolfsburg team-mates Kevin De Bruyne and Bas Dost are already forming a 'magic triangle'.
New Wolfsburg winger Andre Schurrle was thrilled with his debut for the Bundesliga club in their 3-0 win over Hoffenheim on Saturday but played down comparisons between his attacking team-mates and Stuttgart's 'Magic Triangle' of the 1990s.
Schurrle appeared to slot seamlessly into Wolfsburg's line-up against Hoffenheim, setting up the opening goal for Dieter Hecking's team with a cross for Bas Dost, while the former Chelsea man's crunching strike came off the bar for his team's second, which was converted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Dost teed up De Bruyne in the second half for Wolfsburg's third goal.
It prompted suggestions that Schurrle, Dost and De Bruyne could form a new magic triangle - a concept embedded deep in the folklore of modern Bundesliga history.
The term was first coined in the mid-90s when strikers Fredi Bobic and Giovane Elber, plus attacking midfielder Krasimir Balakov, combined brilliantly at Stuttgart and led the club to the 1996-97 DFB Pokal title.
Since then, the German media has been on the lookout for the next magic triangle and with Schurrle, De Bruyne and Dost linking up for all three goals at the Volkswagen Arena, it did not take long for the popular phrase to surface.
When asked by the Bundesliga's website if he could form a magic triangle with De Bruyne and Dost, Schurrle laughed and said: "To form a magic triangle will definitely take a few more games. It can all improve even more when we get to know each other better and when the lads get to know the runs I make and I know more about the runs that they make.
"I need a few more weeks to knuckle down to ensure I get back to peak fitness. But I felt surprisingly good today and was still making runs in the 90th minute.
"There's more to come, let's just see what happens over time."
It took Schurrle less than three minutes to make an impact for his new club as he whipped in a cross for Dost to volley into the net, and the 24-year-old German international was thrilled with his start.
"Positive actions can do you a world of good, especially when for a long time you've only had brief appearances or haven't played at all," Schurrle said.
"In the last few weeks I didn’t train and hardly ever played. It feels incredibly good when everything comes together in the opening minutes. Then you can play with a greater sense of freedom."
Saturday's match ensured Wolfsburg, who sit second in the Bundesliga, kept pace with leaders Bayern Munich.
Bayern won 2-0 at Stuttgart to maintain their eight-point lead in the German top flight.
After Bayern Munich returned to winning ways at Stuttgart, Arjen Robben warned that the champions are back in full flow.
Arjen Robben has warned Bayern Munich's Bundesliga rivals that the champions will always produce a "magic moment" after they stayed on course for yet another title by beating Stuttgart 2-0 on Saturday.
The champions started 2015 in disappointing style with a 4-1 loss at Wolfsburg and then drew 1-1 against Schalke on Tuesday.
Normal service was resumed at Stuttgart, though, with stunning strikes from Robben and David Alaba either side of half-time securing the points.
In-form winger Robben took his tally to eight goals in his last nine games when he struck with a fine first-half finish and the Netherlands international felt Bayern's clinical finishing made the difference.
"Stuttgart pulled everyone back and defended so it was important to score just before half-time," Robben told reporters.
"It put us in a good position and made the second half a bit easier. It was time we took three points, that was very important to us.
"Stuttgart were very defensive and used their wingers as full-backs. You have to go in search of the gaps. The magic moment always comes, we always make chances - but you have to take your chances.
"We scored from our first chance and that's what you need in a game like that."
Bayern hold an eight-point gap over second-placed Wolfsburg and welcome Hamburg to the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
Bundesliga Review: Leverkusen slip up at Bremen, Augsburg miss chance to go third
8 February 2015
Werder Bremen picked up a 2-1 Bundesliga victory over Bayer Leverkusen, while Augsburg were held to a 2-2 draw by Eintracht Frankfurt.
Bayer Leverkusen suffered a setback in their push for a UEFA Champions League berth on Sunday as they suffered a 2-1 Bundesliga defeat at Werder Bremen.
Leverkusen have slowly fallen away since making a promising start to the season, and end the weekend sixth in the top flight.
Bremen were 2-0 up before the half-hour mark, with Davie Selke opening the scoring by slotting home a volley from a high cross played in by Fin Bartels.
Zlatko Junuzovic's curled free-kick doubled the hosts' advantage, although Hakan Calhanoglu headed in a reply shortly after Gonzalo Castro had hit the post.
That proved as much of a fightback as Leverkusen could muster, as Bremen went eighth in the Bundesliga.
In the day's other fixture, Augsburg missed a chance to go third as they threw away a two-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ragnar Klavan's close-range effort broke the deadlock in the seventh minute, before Raul Bobadilla turned in a free-kick at the back post 30 minutes later.
Frankfurt pulled one back by half-time through a Stefan Aigner header, and Alexander Meier ran on to a long punt forward to drill beyond goalkeeper Alex Manninger for a share of the spoils 20 minutes from time.
Jerome Boateng will return for Bayern Munich's trip Paderborn after his three-match ban was reduced to two matches.
Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng had his three-match ban reduced by one game at a German Football Association (DFB) hearing on Monday.
The Germany international was shown a straight red card for a professional foul after upending Sidney Sam in last week's 1-1 draw with Schalke.
Boateng was initially suspended for three games, but the Bundesliga champions have succeeded in their attempt to lessen that punishment.
Having missed Saturday's 2-0 win at Stuttgart, the World Cup-winner will also sit out the home clash with Hamburg this weekend before being available to face Paderborn a week on Saturday.
Boateng attended the hearing in Frankfurt along with Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer.
Kevin De Bruyne has been fined €20,000 for swearing at a ballboy during Wolfsburg's Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne has been fined €20,000 by the German Football Association (DFB) for swearing at a ballboy in a recent Bundesliga match.
With his side trailing 1-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt last week, De Bruyne demanded the ball to take a quick throw-in, and his expletives were picked up by nearby microphones.
De Bruyne went on to net the equaliser and has since apologised to the ballboy, but has now been punished for his language.
"The sports court of the DFB has fined Kevin De Bruyne 20,000 euros for unsporting behaviour in the form of extreme sports misconduct," a statement read.
Marco Reus has given Bundesliga strugglers Borussia Dortmund a timely boost by agreeing a new contract until 2019.
Marco Reus has signed a new deal with Bundesliga strugglers Borussia Dortmund, keeping him at the club until 2019.
The attacking midfielder has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Signal Iduna Park in recent seasons, most notably to German champions Bayern Munich.
However, Reus has given Dortmund a significant vote of confidence by signing a new contract, with the club 16th in the table.
"I am very happy with my decision to sign a new deal with BVB," said Reus, who has scored 34 goals in 72 league appearances. "Dortmund is my hometown, and to choose Borussia was easy.
"I look forward to a successful future with our team with our fantastic fans behind us."
Sporting director Michael Zorc added: "Marco Reus could change the world with almost every top club.
"He has shown that his heart beats for his hometown and for his hometown club by his decision.
"He is a very important component for Borussia Dortmund's sporting future."
Reus, who missed Germany's World Cup triumph through injury, has endured a career of nearly moments at Dortmund, finishing runner up in the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League and DFB-Pokal.
Despite abysmal form domestically this term, Dortmund have been impressive in Europe and face a two-legged last-16 tie against Juventus in the Champions League.
A thigh injury has kept Franck Ribery out of action for Bayern Munich in 2015, but the winger is now fit and firing once again.
Franck Ribery is confident he will be fit enough to finally get going in 2015 when Bayern Munich face Hamburg on Saturday.
The former France winger is yet to feature for Bayern this year after suffering a thigh injury shortly before the season resumed with a crushing 4-1 defeat at Wolfsburg.
However, a return to training this week has bolstered Pep Guardiola's options, and Ribery is keen to hit the ground running at the Allianz Arena.
"The whole last week we worked hard indoors on strength exercises," he told the club's YouTube channel.
"I really hope I can be part of the team against Hamburg, I must say I'm very confident because everything has gone well so far.
"It was a disappointment to feel this injury just two days before the Wolfsburg match but at least it wasn't something more serious."
Bayern will also be boosted by Rafinha's return to fitness. The Brazilian defender has similarly been unable to feature in 2015 due to an ankle knock but he has also taken part in full training this week.
Reus can become Dortmund´s Steven Gerrard - Watzke
11 February 2015
Borussia Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim Watzke hailed Marco Reus' decision to extend his deal with the club despite their recent struggles.
Marco Reus can become Borussia Dortmund's own local hero as Steven Gerrard is to Liverpool after penning a new deal at Signal Iduna Park, according to CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.
Reus extended his Dortmund deal to 2019 this week, the extension also removing a clause in his contract that could have seen him snapped up cheaply at the end of the season.
A host of European powerhouses including Bayern Munich and Real Madrid had been lined with the Germany attacker, though he appears to have spurned their advances, despite Dortmund's terrible season in the Bundesliga.
Woeful form domestically saw Dortmund sit bottom of the table in the league's winter break, where they remained until a 3-0 win over Freiburg last weekend.
Reus' commitment to the cause will provide a huge boost to Jurgen Klopp's squad as they find themselves in an unfamiliar relegation scrap, and Watzke believes the gesture will see him go down in Dortmund folklore.
"If you decide for your club in such a situation, you are down at the bottom of the table, you have offers from the biggest clubs on earth, but nevertheless you decide for your club, thus resigning a lot of financial conditions, that are those players who will be later legends in their clubs," explained Watzke.
"Just like Uwe Seeler, who didn't go [from Hamburg] to Inter Milan, also other players, like [Steven] Gerrard at Liverpool.
"And now there is also the possibility, especially in the case of Marco, who is born here in this city."
Reus could have earned twice as much elsewhere, says Watzke
By Stefan Coerts
Feb 11, 2015 09:19:26
The Dortmund boss has stressed that the attacker could easily have doubled his wages at another club, but stayed put out of love for the Bundesliga side
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has revealed that Marco Reus could have earned twice as much elsewhere had he opted to leave the club rather than sign a contract renewal.
The 25-year-old signed a new deal with BVB until June 2019 on Tuesday, snubbing interest from clubs such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and City.
Watzke has acknowledged that Reus' decision to stay put might seem a remarkable one to many, but stressed the attacker's love for the club and city proved decisive in the end.
"Reus' renewal is a crazy story. It really is remarkable. He could have earned twice as much elsewhere," Watzke as quoted as saying by Bild.
"On one hand you have some of the biggest clubs in the world chasing you and then there's the relegation battle with Dortmund - and no Champions League football next season.
"But he is committed to Dortmund. It would have been very difficult for Marco to leave the city and club. That was decisive in the end. He really is a special guy."
The Germany international, meanwhile, has suggested that he could stay at Dortmund for the remainder of his active career.
"This is a decision for life, that's clear. That is also why I thought about it for such a long time.
"When I returned to this club, I said that I have plans with Dortmund. And I stand by what I said then. You win together and you struggle together."
Reus has netted seven goals in 14 appearances in all competitions for Dortmund so far this season, having struggled with injuries throughout the first half of the campaign.
Bayern should go for Mourinho or Ancelotti, says Matthaus
Stefan Coerts
Feb 11, 2015 12:30:05
The ex-Germany international believes only a few coaches have what it takes to replace Pep Guardiola if he were to leave in 2016
Lothar Matthaus has advised Bayern Munich to go for either Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho or Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti if current head coach Pep Guardiola decides to leave the club in 2016.
The Spanish coach's existing contract is due to expire at the end of the 2015-16 campaign and he is in no rush to open talks over a renewal.
Matthaus has therefore urged Bayern to start looking at potential successors and sees only a few coaches who could be right for the job.
"Just like Jupp Heynckes and Louis van Gaal before him, Pep Guardiola is an alpha male as well," Matthaus told Sport Bild.
"They are all coaches who had been successful abroad. There is no coach like them available in the Bundesliga.
"There are only two coaches abroad who fit Bayern's profile: Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. These two should be right at the top of Bayern's shortlist if they are available in the summer of 2016.
"Joachim Low could also be a good candidate if he leaves the Germany job after Euro 2016."
Bundesliga Preview: Bayern aim to stay on track, tricky games for chasing pack
11 February 2015
Leaders Bayern Munich host resurgent Hamburg in the Bundesliga, while Wolfsburg will look to maintain their chase at Bayer Leverkusen.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will look to move back towards top gear when they host Hamburg on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola's defending champions endured a stuttering return from the mid-season break, following up a stunning 4-1 loss to second-place Wolfsburg with a 1-1 draw against Schalke.
Basement boys Stuttgart were dispatched 2-0 last weekend and Guardiola will hope for further improvement against a resurgent Hamburg, who head into the fixture on the back of recording consecutive wins for the first time this season.
Wolfsburg are eight points adrift of Bayern and face a tricky test of their pursuit at Bayer Leverkusen.
Dieter Hecking's men have a shinning light in Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgium attacking midfielder boasting five goals in three outings since the Bundesliga action resumed.
Leverkusen lie sixth and are unbeaten at home in the league this season, although thy have drawn their past three matches at the BayArena.
Schalke and Augsburg are level on points in third and fourth and are both on the road this weekend.
Roberto Di Matteo has lifted Schalke from 11th position since his appointment in succeeding Jens Keller at Schalke, and they travel to Eintracht Frankfurt having beaten fellow UEFA Champions League hopefuls Borussia Monchengladbach.
Augsburg have proved to be the surprise package of the Bundesliga season so far but they face one of the division's form sides in Werder Bremen.
Viktor Skripnik's 12 matches in the Bremen dugout since replacing Robin Dutt in October have yielded eight wins, including an on-going run of four in a row.
Austrian free-kick specialist Zlatko Junuzovic has been central to that upturn with four goals in his past seven games.
Borussia Dortmund's slump has been one of the season's talking points and Jurgen Klopp's men face another vital game in their unlikely scrap against relegation.
An opener from Marco Reus - who showed his loyalty by signing a new contract this week - and a brace from fellow forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang secured a restorative win over fellow strugglers Freiburg last weekend - only Dortmund's fifth in the Bundesliga this term.
Victory against Klopp's former club Mainz at Signal Iduna Park on Friday would haul the 2011 and 2012 champions level with their opponents on 22 points.
Stuttgart are propping up the table, a situation they will hope to remedy when they face seventh-place Hoffenheim on Saturday - themselves aiming to end a slump of three straight losses.
Monchengladbach welcome Cologne in the remaining Saturday fixture, while Sunday's matches see Hertha Berlin host Freiburg and Paderborn travel to Hannover.
Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Mainz: Reus leads battling BVB to second successive win
Feb 13, 2015 21:19:00
The Germany international celebrated his new contract by bagging a goal and an assist as Jurgen Klopp's men climbed up to 14th in the Bundesliga table
Borussia Dortmund climbed away from the Bundesliga relegation zone with a sizzling second-half performance to beat Mainz 4-2 at Signal Iduna Park.
Goals from Neven Subotic, Marco Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nuri Sahin secured back-to-back league wins for Jurgen Klopp's side - only the second time they have achieved the feat in this troubled season.
Although the hosts dominated the first half, it was Mainz who led at the break thanks to Elkin Soto's volley in the opening minute.
Klopp's half-time team talk obviously had the desired effect, though, as first Subotic and then Reus turned the game on its head in the first 10 minutes of the second period.
Yunus Malli equalised almost immediately for Mainz, but Aubameyang put Dortmund ahead again 19 minutes from time with a well-taken finish from a sublime Reus pass.
And Sahin made certain of the win shortly after, when he followed up Aubameyang's free-kick and converted past Stefanos Kapino.
Victory moves Dortmund up to 14th place in the Bundesliga - level on 22 points with Mainz.
It looked like being another night of misery for Klopp when the visitors opened the scoring inside the first minute as Dortmund's defensive fragility reared its ugly head again.
Subotic failed to clear a lobbed ball into the penalty area, and keeper Roman Weidenfeller could only punch straight to Soto, who lobbed a superb, controlled volley into the unguarded net from outside the area.
Dortmund could have been level two minutes later as Reus found himself in plenty of room inside the penalty area, but his shot thudded against the post and Shinji Kagawa's follow-up was well saved by Kapino.
Finding a way back into the game was proving difficult for Dortmund, but Kagawa went agonisingly close to levelling as the visitors failed to deal with a Reus free-kick.
Dortmund's relentless pursuit of a goal continued after the break and they got their reward within four minutes as Subotic rose to power home Marcel Schmelzer's corner.
And five minutes later the game was turned on its head as Reus celebrated signing a new long-term deal with the club by collecting a perfectly weighted pass from Kevin Kampl before rounding Kapino to score.
Dortmund's delight was short-lived, as Malli and the 22-year-old striker lashed the ball past Weidenfeller from just inside the penalty area a minute later.
But Reus provided a real moment of class to help put his side back in front, with Aubameyang smartly converting his sensational throughball in the 71st minute.
Sahin then slid the ball under Kapino for Dortmund's fourth to give Klopp a vital three points.
Guardiola warned about conduct after touchline sprint
12 February 2015
After confronting an assistant referee during Bayern Munich's 1-1 draw with Schalke, Pep Guardiola has been warned about his future conduct.
Pep Guardiola has been warned about his future conduct by Herbert Fandel - the head of the German Football Association's referee commission - after his touchline sprint last week.
The Bayern Munich head coach raced to confront the assistant referee during the 1-1 draw with Schalke after Robert Lewandowski saw a goal disallowed.
Guardiola was angered at the decision, although his frustration soon passed when Arjen Robben netted the opening goal for Bayern, causing the 44-year-old to embrace the fourth official back in his technical area.
Although he dismissed the incident after the game, Fandel has hit out at the Catalan and warned him to not repeat the act.
"Pep Guardiola would do well to adjust his attitude," Fandel told Sportbild.
"With all due respect to strong emotional reactions, we crossed a line. A coach leaving his technical area to rush towards an assistant at the corner flag needs to be sent to the stands.
"The fact that he got away with a warning against Schalke should remain an isolated case.
"You cannot touch the body of a referee. Pep Guardiola should change his behaviour immediately."
Salomon Kalou has yet to return to Hertha Berlin after the Ivory Coast's Africa Cup of Nations triumph, much to the club's frustration.
Hertha Berlin hope to have Salomon Kalou back for Sunday's Bundesliga clash with Freiburg despite the forward staying longer with the Ivory Coast following the Africa Cup of Nations.
Kalou and his international team-mates were given a hero's welcome in Abdijan following their victory on penalties over Ghana in the final on Sunday, securing their second continental trophy.
However, the 29-year-old has yet to return to the German capital as previously agreed with the Ivory Coast ahead of the tournament.
"There was a clear agreement we received in writing from the Ivory Coast prior to the tournament, but apparently that got forgotten in the thrill of victory," said a frustrated Hertha general manager Michael Preetz.
"This is obviously not ideal, but Solomon is not to blame. He wanted to get away but could not.
Rudi Voller is more familiar than most with the devastating attacking talent of Wolfsburg's Andre Schurrle.
Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller has highlighted the dangers which Wolfsburg's new signing Andre Schurrle could pose against his former side.
Leverkusen host Wolfsburg on Saturday knowing a win could propel them into a UEFA Champions League spot.
Voller, who has been at Leverkusen in his current role since 2005, finalised the paperwork to let Schurrle go to Chelsea in 2013.
However, after being deemed surplus to requirements by the London club, Schurrle is back in the Bundesliga with a vastly improved Wolfsburg side.
Schurrle has made an instant impact, but has rubbished reports that his partnerships with Bas Dost and Kevin De Bruyne - also an ex-Chelsea player - are similar to those of the 'magic triangle', formed by Stuttgart in their title winning season in 1996-97.
"We remain in contact, I'm delighted that he’s a World Champion," Voller told Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung.
"London is a very difficult place to play with a lot of expectations.
"Nevertheless he is a strong player who brings Wolfsburg a lot of extra quality.
"At the time we had to sell Schurrle, we had other options but we also have a club to run, we had to sell to be economically on par.
"On Saturday it will be good for us because we are playing a team that plays - I expect a duel at eye-level and an open game."
Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking described his team's Bundesliga clash with Bayer Leverkusen as "a very interesting challenge".
Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking warned his team against underestimating Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, while questioning the media's weekly focus on favouritism in each Bundesliga fixture.
Hecking's side will travel to sixth-placed Leverkusen on Saturday looking to stretch their unbeaten run in the German league to nine games.
That run has taken Wolfsburg to second in the table, eight points behind leaders Bayern Munich but although they have a nine-point gap over Leverkusen, Hecking does not believe there is much difference between the two teams.
"I think we should not talk every week about who is favourite," the 50-year-old said at a media conference.
"Sure, if you have a look on the table it seems that we are the favourite but every match has to be played first. If we're thinking we're the favourite and run less one metre, then the favourite position will move very fast [to Leverkusen].
"But that's not how we're thinking. We will sharpen our senses.
"We like the hymns of praise that [we] are totally entitled [to] but they should not take us away from the route. The biggest danger is to make mistakes by our own."
Leverkusen lost 2-1 at Werder Bremen last week to drop to sixth, two points behind fourth-placed Augsburg, who sit in the Bundesliga's final qualifying berth for next season's UEFA Champions League.
Roger Schmidt's men have won just once in their past four league games, while they have not tasted victory in three matches at home.
Hecking claimed he is wary of a potential response from Leverkusen, although he is excited by the opportunity to take on one of the Bundesliga's leading clubs.
"Leverkusen under a bit of pressure. They have to show that they won't lose contact with fourth place and the qualification for the Champions League," Hecking said.
"So the match will be a very interesting challenge for us. These are matches which are the cherry on the cake. I'm looking forward to this comparison."
Blaszczykowski eager to repay faith of Dortmund fans
12 February 2015
Jakub Blaszczykowski has thanked Borussia Dortmund fans for their patience during a tough Bundesliga campaign and is eager to repay them.
Jakub Blaszczykowski understands Borussia Dortmund fans' frustrations and is determined to finish the season with a flourish to climb away from the Bundesliga relegation zone.
Dortmund stopped the rot with a 3-0 victory at Freiburg last Saturday to move off the bottom of the table, but Jurgen Klopp's side remain in the more.
Poland international Blaszczykowski believes lthat victory can be a springboard for a club that are usually challenging at the top of the table.
"I think we’ve done enough talking and now we need to take action out on the pitch," Blaszczykowski told the club's official website. "Right now we’re just not playing our game.
"We used to do certain things differently and everything - and I mean everything – it came together wonderfully.
"I believe that we’ve got to continue to keep faith in our game, because only then can we make use of all our qualities and fully exploit the potential we possess.
"We understand our fans 100 per cent because we haven’t given them much reason to celebrate recently.
"We’ve received such unbelievable support from our fans over the years - you don’t get that anywhere else, at no other club, you only get that at Borussia Dortmund."
