Ralf Fährmann: We need to get our rewards for the work we put in
FC Schalke 04 were able to take a point away from Borussia Mönchengladbach. At full-time, the general feeling was somewhere between satisfaction and unhappiness. Not much was missing from the performance to get the win, apart from that most important thing: the winning goal. There was no reason to linger and grumble about the game, though, as goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann emphasised after the final whistle.
“The game showed once again that we can hold our own and even win games,” said Fährmann, adding: “We need to get our rewards for the work we put in and score goals. We can’t allow ourselves to lose courage.” That effort also showed in the match statistics: the 55% of tackles won by the S04 squad was their best of the season, and the Knappen also took more shots (19) and ran further as a group (115 km) than their opponents. The only thing missing was the goals.
“That final step was missing, that last stroke of luck. It was just that last bit to get the three points,” Schalke’s number 1 summarised. With fifteen games left of the fixture list, it could be argued that there is still plenty of time to turn things around and find that final step to get back on track. Not so, said Fährmann: “It’s okay that we got a point, but we need more, because time is ticking.”
Goosebumps from the Schalke support
Of course, Fährmann made good use of the long winter break. The veteran Schalker has been back between the sticks for the last two games, something which the 34-year-old is delighted with. “I’ve tried to make best use of this chance I’ve been given,” he said, whilst also making clear: “It isn’t about me or individual players, it’s about the club. Today was a good game from us, but once again we couldn’t get our reward.”
The next task, and next chance for a long-awaited three points, will come for the Royal Blues this Friday (10.02), as VfL Wolfsburg visit the VELTINS-Arena. Speaking of home games: the noise created by the fans in Mönchengladbach was very much experienced by the team. In the second half especially, the Schalke support echoed around the stadium and gave the team goosebumps, especially for new arrival Moritz Jenz: “It was really a home game for us. When you see and hear these fans, you just want to give them what they deserve. Hopefully we’ll give them three points soon.”
