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Mertcan Ayhan: I’ve been waiting for this moment
It was a full debut to remember for Mertcan Ayhan, as he made his first start for Schalke in the 2-1 win away at Arminia Bielefeld. The first message of congratulations came straight from Turkey, courtesy of his brother Kaan.
The Ayhan household may soon have an official family holiday on 5th October. On that very date, twelve years apart, both brothers reached major milestones in their careers with Schalke. While Kaan made his first professional appearance in a 4-1 win against FC Augsburg in 2012 – coming on for Adam Szalai in the 87th minute – Mertcan celebrated his first start in Bielefeld. Both were born in Gelsenkirchen and came through every youth level of the Knappenschmiede academy.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment and I’m so happy to finally have the chance to prove myself. It’s a dream come true,” said Ayhan. The 19-year-old played the full match against Arminia and helped the team hold onto their 2-1 lead despite Bielefeld’s late pressure. He admitted there were nerves, but only up to a point: “As soon as the whistle goes, they disappear. I focus fully on my game, try to help the team and block everything else out.”
The group dynamic is great and that definitely shows on the pitch.
It’s clear that the chemistry within the team is strong – something Ayhan says is reflected in their performances. “Compared to last season, there’s a noticeable difference. You could already see during pre-season that everyone quickly understood the processes,” he explained. “The group dynamic is great and that definitely shows on the pitch. The mix of young and experienced players works really well – Nikola, Timo and Hasan lead by example and talk to us a lot.”
Communication is key, particularly in a side that plays with the league’s highest defensive line yet has conceded the joint-fewest goals alongside SC Paderborn. “There’s always some risk, but with Nikola at the centre of defence we’re really well coordinated,” the young defender noted. “We have to stay switched on for the full 90 minutes – you can’t afford to switch off. The game keeps getting faster, but good positioning can make a big difference.”
Cheering from the living room
Unsurprisingly, the first message after his full debut came from brother Kaan. “His wife filmed him and my nephew watching and cheering in front of the TV. We spoke on the phone right after and he gave me some pointers,” Mertcan revealed. Above all, his goal now is to play regularly. “I’m just happy to get more minutes and keep developing,” he said – and he knows he’ll continue to have a source of good advice close to home.
