Sebastian Rudy: Schalke were the obvious choice

Sebastian Rudy on…

…his first day at training with Schalke:

The team welcomed me very nicely in the dressing room and on the pitch. The first training session was really good. The reception from the fans was great too. Let’s hope it continues like this.

…the decision to join Schalke:

After two weeks of pre-season in Munich I decided that I needed a change. I spent a lot of time discussing with my family what the best option for me was. I am married, we have a one-year-old son and a dog – the club I joined would have to fit all my criteria. We all want to be comfortable and that the decision I’d take would be long-term. We decided fully that Schalke 04 would be the best club to join.

…the conversations with Domenico Tedesco:

Domenico Tedesco and the entire club made a big effort with me and that left a very good impression on me. The coach explained to me at our meeting what his thoughts on me were and how he wanted to use me. He didn’t just talk about the positives; he also discussed areas of my game where I can improve. It was fascinating to see how prepared Domenico Tedesco and his team were. That was something I took into consideration when picking Schalke. Domenico Tedesco was a youth coach at Hoffenheim during my time there but unfortunately we never met.

…his views on Schalke:

FC Schalke 04 are one of the biggest clubs in Germany with fantastic fans. As a visiting team, it was never easy playing in the Veltins arena, as they always had a ‘twelfth man’ in the fans. I am glad that I have the Schalke fans behind me now. Maybe I will play against Hertha BSC on Sunday but that decision is up to my coach.

…his role at Schalke

I would like to play as much as I can but also to be an important piece of the puzzle. At the age of 28, I feel like I am near my prime and I can bring a lot of experience to the team and help the younger players develop. I know that we have several good players in my position in central midfield and so we will all have to compete for that position. However, we will be playing many games this season so I am convinced everyone will get a lot of playing time.

…conversations with Mark Uth

Before my transfer, I chatted to people I knew, who knew Schalke well. One of them was Mark Uth. He told me only good things about the team, the training, the club and the fans. All this agreed with the image I had in my head about Schalke and reinforced my decision to join the club.

…the Germany national team:

I hope that I will be picked for the upcoming international games. I would like to be an integral part of the national team as well as for Schalke. Unfortunately, at the World Cup, I broke my nose in the game against Sweden and had to end my competition there. I really wanted to keep playing but I was unable to because my nose was bleeding so much. I had to undergo surgery on it too, but now I am feeling better again.

…his number on his back:

I chose the number 13 because it was free. I’m not really bothered by the number on my back as I have different numbers throughout my career.