Niklas Tauer: Safety is possible

The friendly will be the first taste of playing at the VELTINS-Arena for the 21-year-old, who was an unused substitute when Mainz 05 visited Gelsenkirchen on matchday 14 – a game which ended 1-0 in favour of the Royal Blues. Despite not playing in the game, Tauer says the experience left an impact on him. “As the away team, playing against an atmosphere like that is not easy at all, so I’m pleased that I have the Schalke fans on my side now.”

The Mainz loanee also reported that the mood within the team was a good one. “The team welcomed me really well. The training camp was a fantastic opportunity for me to settle into the team, both on and off the pitch. The fact that we spent a lot of time together in Belek allowed me to get to know everyone.”

Hard work and good atmosphere

“I think the fans see that we’re working hard,” said Tauer, who said it’s a good thing that there are laughs and smiles among the hard work in training. “If the mood on the pitch is negative, it brings everyone down. A good atmosphere helps to push everyone towards our goals.”

That goal, for everyone, is to remain in the Bundesliga this season – a task that the midfielder trusts that the team is capable of. “The situation that we’re in right now is one that I’m familiar with from my time with Mainz. Two years ago, we were near the bottom of the league at the turn of the year,” he said, looking back on the 2020/21 season. “Back then, we showed that it was possible to turn things around, and I’m convinced that it’s possible to do it here too. We started to play like a team possessed back then. After the first win, we took the momentum into the next week. Winning makes everything a little bit easier.

On the pitch, Tauer sees his best position as a defensive midfielder. “I think that’s where I can show my strengths the most,” said the Mainz native, who is known for his prowess in duels and aggression in the tackle. “However, I’ve played in several positions throughout my career and the important thing is that I can help the team.”