Frank Kramer: It’s important to always be hungry for goals

“It’s important to always be hungry for goals and looking for more; that’s why we play football,” said the 50-year-old. “We took good control of the game in the first half and played very clearly,” said Kramer on a half in which his team scored ten goals.

The good mood on the pitch in the Royal Blues’ first friendly of 2022/23 was reflected by the 3,100 fans present at the EVONIK Sportpark, many of them kitted out in S04 colours. “It’s fun to feel that the fans are excited and looking forward to seeing the team,” said Kramer.

Nevertheless, the head coach emphasised that his squad still have a long way to go before the first competitive match of the season, and that being in such a position is completely normal at this stage. “We want to play better football and coordinate well with each other. We’re working to that end every day, and the lads are doing well in training,” he added.

Ouwejan nets wonder-strike

Thomas Ouwejan set pulses racing in the friendly against VfB Hüls with a spectacular goal, his left-footed free-kick flying into the top right corner from 25 yards. “That was the best goal of the day, right?” joked the 25-year-old, who would not say no to replicating the strike over the coming weeks and months in the Bundesliga.

Ouwejan and the team are working hard to make their return to the Bundesliga a successful one, with the work alongside the coaching staff a lot of fun for the left-sided defender: “It’s pretty good,” he said, adding that he thinks this summer’s new arrivals have been welcomed into the team. “I was a new player myself last summer, and I integrated very quickly into the squad,” the Dutchman commented, certain that the summer’s signings will do the same this year.