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Kevin Müller: The clean sheet and the win will only help make us better as a team
Goalkeeper Kevin Müller kept his first clean sheet on what was his third appearance for FC Schalke 04, helping his side secure an important 1-0 win at home against Arminia Bielefeld on Friday (6/3). Müller announced his intentions early on, cutting off a Bielefeld counter-attack in the opening minutes of the match. "It's always nice to be able to start a game off well," said the 34-year-old. "That's the toughest thing about being a goalkeeper: you never know exactly when you'll be needed."
His early save to deny Joel Grodowski not only earned him the applause of the home fans, but also provided a sense of security to his teammates on the pitch. “We were all left feeling a bit dissatisfied with the 1-1 draw in Fürth and the mood within the team was only so-so,” he explained. “That’s why it was really important for us to have been able to respond in the right away against Bielefeld.” According to Müller, it might not have been Schalke’s finest game of the season, but “That’s not always needed in order for it to count as a good performance.”
Given how close the competition within the second division is this season, it was even more important for the Royal Blues to finally keep another clean sheet. They last managed to do so back in January, in a 0-0 draw against Hertha BSC on matchday 18. “Even as Schalke, we can’t expect to be playing teams off the pitch in every game,” said Müller. In the end, a solid team performance – particularly from the S04 backline – coupled with Edin Džeko’s 15th-minute strike, was enough for the Royal Blues to take all three points.
That's the toughest thing about being a goalkeeper: you never know exactly when you'll be needed.
The win also marked Müller’s first clean sheet for the Royal Blues. The 34-year-old shared that it took a few moments for this feat to fully sink in. “Afterwards, when you’ve got a quiet moment to start running through everything in your mind again, then that’s when you’re able to savour that accomplishment,” he said. “First and foremost, however, it’s not about me, but rather the fact that getting both the shutout and the win will only help make us better as a team.”
Despite his humble analysis, there’s no deny that Müller played a large part in Schalke’s success on Friday night. The 34-year-old was there when his team needed him on multiple occasions, ensuring nothing got past him at the back. “My experience only helps me there,” he explained, adding: “The saves I made will only help build my confidence.”
