Rabbi Matondo: The goals will come for sure

In the 80th minute of the game against FC Augsburg, after some nice link-up play with Breel Embolo, only a block from Rani Khedira denied the Welshman from scoring his first goal. 60 seconds later, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel saved Matondo’s effort from going in. “I am very satisfied with my performance, but still I would be happier if I could have scored,” said Matondo on his first appearance in the VELTINS-Arena in the game against SC Freiburg on the 16th February. “I could have scored a goal myself,” said the teenager, who also added: “I am learning from every minute on the pitch and every tough training session. I am sure the goals will come.”

S04 lacked urgency in front of goal

He was very disappointed about the result against Augsburg. “We should have at the minimum scored a goal and that would have won the game,” said Matondo looking back on the Augsburg game. Schalke were unable to take any of their chances. “We weren’t clinical enough in front of goal,” said the youngster, who hopes, that will change in the last two games of the Bundesliga season against Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart.

Matondo wants to improve step-by-step with the Royal-Blues, in order to do better with his chances, like the one he had in the 68th minute. Matondo sprinted up the pitch after an Augsburg corner, left his opponents watching, received the ball in the box but his shot hit the back of the Augsburg defender and went just over the bar. “In the end, I was just thinking too much about what I was going to do,” said an annoyed Matondo. However, he understands that: “If I can get more experience, then I will learn when to make the right decisions in the decisive moments.”