Cedric Teuchert: One of the biggest attractions was the coach

Cedric, welcome to FC Schalke 04! 

Thank you very much. I’m extremely proud to be a part of this outstanding club.

Lots of teams were interested in bringing you on board. What tipped the scales in favour of the Royal Blues? 

My conversations with Domenico Todesco went really well. He explained to me very clearly how he plans to utilise me and his footballing philosophy as well. He also let me know what  I need to improve upon and how he could help me with that. Domenico Tedesco was one of the biggest attractions for me. Aside from that, the fans, the stadium and the city were all contributing factors.

Did you manage to speak to your former teammates Alessandro Schöpf and Guido Burgstaller? 

Yes, I did! Both of them had only positive things to say. I spoke to Schöpfi just before my transfer went through. He raved about Schalke. I met up with Burgi straight after I arrived in Benidorm. It’ll definitely help me settle in thanks to knowing those two guys. I hope that I can become as central a part to this squad as they are. 

Can you talk to us a bit about how the last 24 hours have gone? 

It hasn’t exactly been very relaxed (laughs). My agent told me that the transfer had gone through on Tuesday evening. We were in contact all the time, and he was very aware that I really wanted to become a Schalke player. On Wednesday morning I then made the trip to Benidorm. Well, around midday actually – things didn’t go as smoothly as planned…

What happened? 

The plane which Christian Heidel, my agent and I were meant to take was broken down. And the first possible replacement was also out of order. Thankfully we were finally able to board a plane and get here with a little bit of a delay.

Have you set yourself any goals for the coming weeks and months? 

It’s a big step up from the lower divisions to the Bundesliga, but I have a lot of belief in my own abilities. I’m always looking to improve. My goal is to help this team as soon as I can. I’m really looking forward to my first home game. I’ve honestly never been to the VELTINS-Arena before – as a spectator or a player. I can’t wait.

What are your strengths in your opinion? 

I love dribbling at pace and I think that I have a good ability to score goals. I like playing through the middle, but I have the versatility to be able to play in other positions.

Are you all ready to go after the winter break? 

Definitely. I’ve prepared really well over the last few days. Back in Nuremberg before Christmas we all had individual training programs. I’m sure that will not be any different at Schalke. I feel good and I can’t wait for my first training session. I’m really looking forward to meeting the boys!