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Timo Becker: We showed a completely different side to ourselves
FC Schalke 04 kept their third clean sheet of the season on Saturday (24/10). It was a particularly impressive achievement given 1. FC Köln’s home record this calendar year, with the Billy Goats having scored in all 13 of their previous Bundesliga home games in 2026. “We put in a good performance away from home, were much better than we were against Mainz and showed a completely different side to ourselves,” said Timo Becker.
The centre-back wore the captain’s armband in the absence of regular skipper Kenan Karaman, who had travelled to Cologne despite struggling with muscular problems to support his teammates from the sidelines. Becker and the rest of the Schalke side ensured that Köln’s scoring run on home soil came to an end.
Praise for his teammates
“We were aggressive, won the ball back a lot and created some good chances,” explained Becker. With a little more luck, Schalke might even have come away with all three points. “Unfortunately, we just couldn’t find a goal in the end.” Nevertheless, the Royal Blues’ number 5 felt the attacking players deserved credit for their efforts. “Hee Chan Hwang and Junior Adamu did really well up front. They worked incredibly hard.”
The rest of the team also gave everything for the full 90 minutes, despite having to deal with some unusual circumstances. Schalke were already missing several players before kick-off, and things went from bad to worse when Soufiane El-Faouzi and Robin Gosens collided towards the end of the first half. Neither player was able to continue.
We were aggressive, won the ball back a lot and created some good chances.
“I wish both lads a speedy recovery and hope they’ll be back with us soon,” said Becker. “When you’re already missing several players, losing two more important members of the team is always difficult. But Vitalie Becker and Janik Bachmann came on and did a really good job.”
Those who have had fewer opportunities to play so far this season now have the chance to show what they can do. Becker has every confidence in the strength of the squad and the team as a whole. “Whoever plays will give their all!”
Maintaining defensive solidity
Looking ahead to the coming fixtures, the vice-captain is well aware of the challenges facing his side. “The games coming up over the next few weeks aren’t going to get any easier. That’s why it’s so important that we stay solid defensively,” said the defender. Having conceded just seven goals so far, the Royal Blues still boast the fourth-best defensive record in the Bundesliga.
With a busy week ahead, including Wednesday’s (28/10) DFB-Pokal trip to Dresden and Saturday’s (31/10) Bundesliga clash with RB Leipzig at the VELTINS-Arena, Becker stressed the importance of recovering quickly. Both games mean a great deal to the 29-year-old. For now, however, his focus is firmly on the cup tie against Dynamo. As he put it: “Every game is important, but the next one is always the most important.”
