Alessandro Schöpf on a special game and goal scoring

After a couple of international games in June and a well-deserved holiday, Alessandro Schöpf returned to Royal Blue team training on Monday (16.07). In this interview with schalke04.de, the midfielder speaks about his goal-scoring qualities on the international stage, his summer as a World Cup spectator, the upcoming training camp in his home country of Austria and how much he’s looking forward to the Bundesliga encounter with 1. FC Nürnberg.

Interview

17.07.18, 15:29

Alessandro Schöpf

Alessandro, a few weeks ago, many fans on our social media channels predicted you’d be the Bundesliga’s top scorer come the end of the season!
Really? I think that’d be difficult (laughs).

The comments came after your goals for Austria – first against World Cup hosts Russia and then against Germany.
I really was a goal scorer there (chuckles). In the national team, I play a little more offensively so I pop up in front of the opposition’s goal more often. At Schalke, I have a different role, but I obviously hope to score the odd goal here and there.

Be the Bundesliga’s top goal scorer? That could be difficult.

Alessandro Schöpf

How special was the win over the DFB Team for you? The last time Austria won against Germany was in 1986.
I wasn’t even born then. Of course it was a special game – against Germany, the country where I play my club football. Then the win, and to crown it all off with my winner to make it 2-1. For us in Austria it was a great day for football, but we would have preferred to take part in the World Cup.

After not qualifying for the tournament in Russia, you were forced to be a spectator. Did you still follow the games?
I watched a lot of matches. When I had time, I put the TV on. Before the World Cup, I said France would win, so I was spot on.

Apart from watching the World Cup on TV, how else did you spend your holiday?
I spent a week in Ibiza and then went to Italy for a few days. I spent the rest of my spare time at home with the family.

For me as an Austrian, there’s nothing more beautiful than training with the mountains in the background.

Alessandro Schöpf

How often did you put on your running shoes?
Like every player, I had an individual training plan. I stuck to it so I feel good now and can train with the team.

In around one and a half weeks’ time, you’ll go into your training camp in Mittersill. Are you looking forward to the time in Austria?
Definitely. We’ve already been there twice. The conditions in Mittersill are top, and for me as an Austrian there’s nothing more beautiful than training with the mountains in the background (grins).

One game you’ll be looking forward to in particular is the encounter with 1. FC Nürnberg – your former team.
When they were promoted, I sent a congratulatory message to many of the boys that I used to play with. FC Nürnberg are finally back where they belong – in the Bundesliga. The fans of both clubs will certainly create an amazing atmosphere in the stadium when we play them.

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