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Max Grüger: A childhood dream come true
19-year-old Max Grüger has enjoyed a special few weeks recently. The club’s academy product made his first-team debut in the win at Preußen Münster, before then featuring in the subsequent games against Hertha BSC and Hannover 96.
The away game at the Preußenstadion on 28th September was a memorable one for several reasons. The 2-1 victory was the Royal Blues’ first win in a number of weeks, while interim coach Jakob Fimpel named two youngsters from the academy, Taylan Bulut and Max Grüger, in his starting XI. It was Grüger’s 2. Bundesliga debut: “I was extremely nervous before the game and had so many thoughts running through my head,” explained the 19-year-old. “All that was behind me by kick-off though, and I was able to play my game.”
Both the result and the defensive midfielder’s performance in Münster were positive. Grüger played for all of the club’s youth sides and his family are big Schalke fans. “A few of my family have season tickets. My father and my grandfather regularly come to the training sessions that are open to the public,” he revealed. Unsurprisingly, his family are extremely proud of him and the shirt from his first game is already on display in their home.
Playing for the club’s first team is a dream come true for the Schalke fan. “It still doesn’t really feel real, but it’s a great feeling nonetheless.” He was handed some minutes in the friendly against NAC Breda during the first international break, and that left him with hope that he would make a first-team squad. “I always tried my best in training and looked to impress. I’m there when the coach needs me.”
Important games coming up
New head coach Kees van Wonderen also believes in Grüger’s quality and started him at Hannover last time out. “He put a lot of focus on defending in his first few weeks and it’s worked well for the most part,” Grüger stated. “We were however too ineffective in the final third, we have to improve on that.”
The Knappen are hoping that results will improve in the coming weeks. Saturday’s (26/10) home game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth is followed by the trip to FC Augsburg in the DFB-Pokal next Tuesday. After that cup tie comes matches against SSV Ulm and SSV Jahn Regensburg. “We’re in a difficult situation and we can feel the pressure. However, we’ve got enough games to turn things around,” said Grüger. “We want and need to start picking up points!”
