Search
Login
Please log in with your user data.
Edin Džeko: From the very beginning, I only wanted Schalke
Schalke’s latest signing appeared at his first press conference shortly after it was announced that he had signed for the club on Thursday afternoon (22/1). The striker surprised everyone in attendance by greeting them with a friendly “Glück auf!” and explained that his friend Sead Kolasinac had told him that it was the traditional greeting at Schalke.
The 39-year-old then spoke in almost perfect German about his decision to join the Royal Blues, his positive conversations with both current and former Schalke players and his goals for the coming weeks and months. Here’s what Schalke’s new number 10 had to say.
Edin Džeko on…
…his decision to sign for Schalke:
Some people said I was crazy when I said I might move to Schalke, but I’m definitely not crazy. Others were just as excited about it as I was. I had a number of options, but I knew from the very beginning that I only wanted Schalke. My heart is fully in it and I completely stand by my decision. I didn’t need any persuading or convincing – I was the one who wanted to come here and who also made the first enquiries some time ago. I know what Schalke is about from my time at VfL Wolfsburg. It’s an amazing club with amazing fans and an amazing stadium. I’m happy to be a part of it all myself.
…his positive conversations ahead of the move:
I’ve spoken with Nikola Katic and Miron Muslic a lot over the past few days. Miron is still a young coach who has shown what he’s capable of. He gives the team a lot of energy. I’ve also been in contact with Sead Kolasinac, who only had positive things to say. He kept telling me: “Brate, you’ve got to do this!” – now I’m here. He was one of the first people to order a shirt from the fan shop. He really loves this club and would love to come to the game against Kaiserslautern at the weekend. I had to explain to him that Atalanta have a game at almost the same time (laughs). The conversations I had with Frank Baumann just convinced me further. My national team coach Sergej Barbarez and his assistant Zlatan Bajramovic – who also has a Schalke past – spoke very positively about the club. I spoke to some of my former teammates in Florence, and Robin Gosens said straight away that I absolutely had to move to Schalke and that it is just an awesome club!
Miron gives the team a lot of energy.
…his whirlwind schedule since arriving in Gelsenkirchen:
I’ve had a busy time, with the medical, signing the contract, doing some media work, and then meeting the lads for the first time. Then there was an individual training session, now I’m here at the press conference. I’m a little tired, but at the same time, I’m really happy to be here at Schalke and to get going with everyone from tomorrow onwards.
…his age:
I’m 39, yes. But what matters is what you see on the pitch. In every stage of my career I’ve put in good performances and shown that I’m someone who can be relied upon. Although I’m turning 40 in two months, I don’t feel old and I’m convinced that I can help the side, and that in a few weeks no one will be talking about my age.
…the chances of a debut against Kaiserslautern:
It’s possible that I’ll be in the squad, but ultimately we haven’t discussed it yet. I’ll train with the team for the first time on Friday, and after that I’ll have a conversation with the head coach. It’s not about me, rather all about what’s best for Schalke. I don’t think I’ll need much time to settle in. I’ve seen and experienced a lot across my career, I’m familiar with a lot of different styles of play and various systems. I feel really fit right now. I did have a knock to the foot three weeks ago, and I had an MRI for it in the end. It was a bruise, with some swelling. Despite that, I’ve been training completely normally for ten days now.
It’s not about me, rather all about what’s best for Schalke.
..what he hopes to achieve:
I want to help the team with strong performances as well as a few goals, and play my part in a successful period for the club. The second half of the season is always more difficult than the first. We’re currently top of the table, but we still have 16 games to go. The focus is always on the next game standing in front of you, not what might or might not happen in a few weeks or months. You can’t let yourself get drawn into looking too far ahead into the future. It doesn’t do you any good. We have to tell ourselves that this weekend against Kaiserslautern is the most important game of the season. After that, the match in Bochum, and then on like that for the rest of the campaign.
…the weight of expectation on him:
There’s always pressure in football, I learnt that more than 20 years ago. You have to keep a clear head as a result, and that’s not a problem for me. Pressure can be a positive thing as well and help you to take a step in the right direction.
