Schalke coach Jens Keller has revealed his delight at his side's fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga this season.
The Royal Blues secured the fourth and final Champions League spot on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Freiburg at the Mage Solar Stadion.
"We're over the moon to have reached our target," Bundesliga.com quotes him as saying.
"We certainly didn't play well, but given the chances we created I don't think the win was undeserved.
"At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the result. We've played differently in recent weeks and been punished."
Schalke will enter the Champions League qualifying rounds.