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Hasan Kuruçay: Looking forward to a great game
Hasan Kuruçay was the match-winner when FC Schalke 04 ran out 1-0 winners against SV Elversberg back on 8th November 2025. Ahead of the reverse fixture against the league’s current third-placed side, the 28-year-old’s focus isn’t on the aforementioned win at the VELTINS-Arena. Rather, he’s only thinking of the upcoming clash at the URSAPHARM-Arena on Sunday (12/4, 13:30 CEST).
“Full focus on the upcoming game,” said Kuruçay, who is expecting SVE to look to keep the ball while also posing a threat in attack. “Elversberg are deservedly in the top of the table. I’m looking forward to a great game against a strong opponent.”
The defender is confident that his side are well-prepared for this weekend’s match, with Elversberg currently just three points behind the Royal Blues in third place. “It’s a close race in the table at the moment. But there’s still a few weeks left to play this season and several points up for grabs,” Kuruçay said, adding that this weekend’s game won’t determine their final position in the standings: “A lot can happen in six games.”
In keeping with this line of thinking, the Royal Blues are continuing to take it game by game. “We had an intense week of training,” Kuruçay revealed. More than 1,000 fans attended both public training sessions this past week.
I’m looking forward to a great game against a strong opponent.
Additionally, Schalke can draw confidence from their 1-0 win against Karlsruher SC last weekend. “Keeping a clean sheet is something that makes me particularly happy, as a defender,” he said.
The 28-year-old will be partnered with someone other than Nikola Katic (injured) or Mertcan Ayhan (suspended) at centre-back this weekend. “We are obviously missing several important players,” he said, “But that’s nothing new for us, we’ve been through this before this season. We will compensate for their absences because we have a strong squad. We’ve had to change things around at the back several times already this season and it’s never been a problem.”
Kuruçay couldn’t give any insights into how head coach Miron Muslic will set up his team tomorrow afternoon. “The coach will find a good solution,” he said, “I’m 100% certain of it.”
