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Amin Younes: I am my own greatest critic
Sunday’s match at home to SV Elversberg (18/5) will mark the end of a disappointing campaign for FC Schalke 04. Ahead of the clash at the VELTINS-Arena, Amin Younes looked back on the past weeks and months. The attacking player was very critical of his own displays and explained that he can completely understand the disappointment felt by the S04 supporters.
“It is more than understandable that the fans are anything but content,” reported the 31-year-old. “We are provided with their support, week after week, no matter if it’s home or away. They regularly travel half the length of Germany just to watch us deliver weak performances. Therefore, we really want to end the season with a positive result.”
We had very different targets for the season. I was also personally expecting much more of myself.
Younes knows that a win against the side placed third in the standings would not be enough to simply erase the performances of the current campaign so far. “None of us are happy with how the season has gone,” emphasised the Confederations Cup winner of 2017. “We had very different targets for the season. I was also personally expecting much more of myself. Nevertheless, it is not the case that we the team just accept this situation and are not bothered by our displays and results.”
24 appearances have come the way of Younes this season, scoring twice and providing a further two assists for his teammates in the process. “I have not demonstrated my qualities frequently enough,” said the right-footed player. “There are obviously reasons for that but I do not want to go looking for excuses. I am my own greatest critic.” The frustration with his own showing was clear to see when substituted off last time out in Düsseldorf. However, the player clarified that this was not in any way directed at the coach: “I was unhappy with myself.”
Conclusions to be drawn
In the analysis of the past season, the correct conclusions need to be drawn in order for the next campaign to get off on the right foot. Younes is convinced of the fact that this will happen. “I have full faith in the new board member for sport Frank Baumann and his team,” told the attacking player, adding that he and every other member of the team now has the task of “giving it our best. We can only manage that together.”
As a personal goal, Younes is targeting being “vastly more effective and producing more than just five good performances.” He accentuated that the past months have not simply passed him by without feeling. “It is not the case that I just head home after matches and get on with having a nice day. I have a family and we are all suffering. It is not something that doesn’t bother us, rather it’s very frustrating.”
Nonetheless, Younes explains that he cannot look back on the season with a sense of self pity, since this serves as no help on the road to reaching his targets. “We need to have a better structure in the future, while conceding fewer goals and playing an improved brand of football. As a unit, we will work hard towards achieving this aim.” The hope is that they can also achieve to put smiles on Schalke fans’ faces much more often next term.
