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Kenan Karaman: Games like that stay with you
When Kenan Karaman thinks back to Schalke’s last away trip to Berlin, the captain still gets goosebumps to this day. In the 2-1 away win on matchday 25 of last season, around 25,000 S04 fans followed their team to the capital and turned the Olympiastadion into something that felt like a home game for the full 90 minutes.
“It was absolute madness and an incredible feeling,” Karaman recalled. “Games like that stay with you.” He was the one who scored the decisive goal to make it 2-1, and in his 14th meeting with the ‘Old Lady’, it marked his eighth goal involvement against the Berliners (4 goals, 4 assists).
Karaman was unable to feature in the reverse fixture earlier this season, as he was still working his way back to full fitness following the knee injury he suffered during pre-season. His comeback came a week later in Kaiserslautern. All the more reason, then, for the forward to be looking forward to the latest clash with Hertha, who started the campaign with big ambitions and are aiming high in the second half of the season.
At present, the Royal Blues sit nine points clear of the Berliners who are in sixth place. “We set ourselves the target of winning in Berlin – that’s the approach we take into every game,” Karaman stressed ahead of Saturday night’s kick-off (17/1) at 20:30 CET.
We set ourselves the target of winning in Berlin – that’s the approach we take into every game.
The trip to the capital will be made with plenty of confidence, although Karaman insists the league table is of little relevance. “Promotion isn’t a topic in our dressing room at all. Our focus is just on picking up points week by week.”
Foundations laid in Gelsenkirchen
The captain feels his team is ready for the weekend. “We’ve been able to prepare well for the second half of the season in Gelsenkirchen,” said the 31-year-old. The sometimes bitterly cold temperatures were no issue for him. “I’m not expecting any different weather in Berlin. It gave us the chance to get used to the conditions ahead of the first game. We’re full of excitement for this challenge.”
Karaman would love to find the net at the Olympiastadion again, just as he did last season. With six goals to his name, Schalke’s number 19 is currently the club’s top goalscorer this season. “I always set myself the target of reaching double figures, and I’ll give everything to make that happen,” he explained. Team success, however, comes first. “I put my personal goals to one side. Right now, it’s simply fun to be part of this team – and winning does all of us good.”
