Robin Gosens: This team wants to achieve big things

Robin Gosens soaked up everything that comes with a pre-season debut during his 45 minutes on the pitch at the Silberstadt Arena in Schwaz. “It was a lot of hard work, especially in those temperatures,” said the new signing. “But it was unbelievably fun to be out there on that pitch with the lads.” While he feels that it’ll still take some time to get fully up to speed with the patterns of play, Gosens believes the foundations have now been laid for the coming weeks and the start of the competitive season at the end of August.

The left-footer found it particularly helpful to be running out alongside centre-back Hasan Kuruçay throughout the match against Okayama. “He was outstanding and talked me through the game from behind.” The 32-year-old has also settled into the squad environment brilliantly: “This week has done me a world of good – I’ve integrated into the setup perfectly. I could tell straight away that this is a close-knit team and one that wants to achieve big things.”

Working hard on the training pitch has been essential in pursuit of those collective ambitions. “Pre-season is all about putting the hard yards in,” the veteran wing-back knows. Even after the time spent in Stubaital, the focus remains on “improving week after week and being in top shape for the start of the season”. He has already been impressed by the quality within the squad: “Against Okayama we already put together some really good passing moves and had some strong moments with their gegenpressing. Going forward we’ve got players who can turn in tight spaces and play quick one-touch combinations – I really like that.”

Defensively, the 24-time Germany international was also able to rely on Mertcan Ayhan, who started alongside Gosens in Schwaz. The 19-year-old held Schalke’s back line together with a calm and composed defensive display. “I want to build on that basis,” Ayhan said after the final whistle.

The Gelsenkirchen native also gave a positive assessment of the team’s stay in Stubaital: “The training camp has come to an end now. We had some really good sessions, and of course they were very demanding. That’s all part of it. We want to keep pushing forward.” The match against the Japanese top-flight side, Schalke’s third in the space of seven days, provided the perfect way to round things off before returning to home turf. “It was another good chance to test ourselves in a friendly. I’d say everything’s gone to plan. Now we’re really starting to look forward to a season of Bundesliga football.”