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Kenan Karaman: A wonderful moment which we can all enjoy
There wasn’t just one match winner in the 2-1 home victory over SC Paderborn (28/11). Kenan Karaman was absolutely one of a number of Royal Blues to play a starring role on Friday night. The Schalke captain enjoyed quite the evening at the VELTINS-Arena, grabbing a goal and assist in what was all around an impressive display. However, the down-to-earth forward is not tempted to fall into the trap of arrogance and daydreaming, even after such a thrilling game.
Of course, the team’s impressive form and position at the top of the table are far from meaningless for Kenan Karaman. It remains crucial, though, to stay calm and objective about the situation, something the 31-year-old is inspiringly good at doing: “The table doesn’t lie, there’s no point denying that. It’s taken a lot of hard work to be where we are right now. This is a wonderful moment, which we can all enjoy. But we’re keeping both feet planted firmly on the ground.”
The goalscorer was particularly enthused by the Knappen’s second-half performance on matchday 14 of the 2. Bundesliga season. He set the side up for such a display just before the half-time whistle, with a moment of individual brilliance to bring Schalke level as they headed in for the break. A key player for a key moment, as head coach Miron Muslic stressed: “He is an unbelievably important player for us, who has given everything for the good of this side over the last four to six months. Nothing is more important to him than Schalke’s success. He was directly involved in the two crucial moments tonight; that shows just how crucial he is for this side. Kenan is a different level.”
It’s clear to see that this team aren’t just loving life on the pitch: “It’s an absolute pleasure to come in every day, to work with these boys every day,” said Karaman after the 2-1 win over Paderborn. “Everyone is there for each other, which was visible on the pitch today.” That’s also in no small part thanks to the atmosphere that the squad, the coaching staff and the fans have created between them.
It’s hard to spot any sign of external pressure having an effect on the Royal Blues right now: “I don’t really sense any pressure on the boys. We know that we’ll stick to our plan and our structure even in the face of setbacks and keep pressing on. That gives us a real feeling of stability and confidence in such situations.”
The captain’s focus often shifts to the next game mere seconds after the final whistle blows. Will Karaman follow up Friday’s brilliance with more goals and assists away at Fortuna Düsseldorf (5/12, 18:30 CET) next week? The forward made himself clear: “It’s not that important for me to score or set up a goal. The absolute priority is always three points.” One thing is certain: this game will go down as a special one for Kenan Karaman, especially from a Royal Blue perspective.
