Rouven Schröder: We’re ambitious and want to win something

Occupying fourth place, S04 are level on points with the third-placed Hamburg and sit five points adrift of the automatic promotion places. But Schröder doesn’t want to get caught up on hypothetical numbers games, especially when one must always be wary of what’s coming up behind them given how the table looks at the moment. “We shouldn’t look at other teams and instead focus on ourselves. We shouldn’t worry about our rivals because the more you focus on them, the more you seem to trip yourself up. We’ve managed to put ourselves in a good position and can achieve something. As someone involved in the sport, you always want to win the most that you can.”

The foundations for a successful second part of the season will be laid starting on the 3rd of January at the club’s training camp in Belek – presented by GAZPROM. During the week-long stay on the Turkish Riviera, S04 will take on a European top-flight side in a friendly match. As soon as the contracts are signed, the opponent will be announced.

Meeting the day after HSV game

„Our work in Belek will be concentrated and focused,“ said Schröder, who, along with board member for sport and communication Peter Knäbel and team manager Gerald Asamoah, spoke to the team and coaching staff at a joint breakfast the day after the HSV match. „We are always open and transparent with each other. We tell each other when something was good, but we also discuss the things that need to be improved. No one should think that we just pat each other on the back and tell each other how great everything is going. We still have room for improvement in some areas. We are tackling that together.“

In addition to the points tally and the proximity to the peak of the league table, a central focus was to build a team that fits FC Schalke 04 after the summer transfer window that saw 46 players moving in and out of the club, according to Schröder. „We wanted the fans and the area to identify with the team again. That was extremely important to us,“ says Schröder. Or the sporting director, that has been successful so far. „You can see it week in, week out. The boys are a fantastic group, they stand up for each other and support each other. A down-to-earth attitude and humility are values we live by. But at the same time, passion and hunger for success.“

Incomings and outgoings possible during the winter window

Schröder wants to continue seeing this side of the team and is not ruling out arrivals and departures during the upcoming transfer window. During the training camp, the sporting management will hold open talks with players who have not featured much so far and have therefore not been able to live up to their own expectations, said Schröder. „What do we want, what does the player want, what is best for the club?“ are the main questions according to Schröder.

There are several factors for any potential incomings, says the sporting director. Firstly, the player must strengthen the team immediately and not require a long period of acclimatisation. „In addition,“ says the 46-year-old, „as well as the footballing side, the personal side of the player must fit 100 per cent to the club.“ This aspect of a player should not be underestimated in a well-run team, said Schröder, who explained that despite the Coronavirus pandemic and the associated financial losses in past months, the club is still in a position to be active in the window. „We have done well with our finances. We don’t have lots of leeway, but that makes it exciting.