Reinhold Ranftl: I want to impress

Reinhold Ranftl on…

…the first day in Mittersill:
The hotel is great, the training facilities are excellent and the weather’s good too. We’ve got everything we need to prepare for the new season well. We will work hard on the pitch and also try to get to know each other better as a team too.

…his new teammates:
Just like the other new signings, I’ve been accepted by the rest of the team and staff. I felt at home right from the first second here. My first impression has been really positive, the lads are all nice.

…the reactions of Austrian fans to his move:
They were all positive. A lot of people were pleased for me and wished me the best of luck for my time at FC Schalke 04. This transfer is a dream come true for me.

…his aims for the next few days of training:
I want to impress and show the coaches what I’m capable of. We need to get to know how we all play so that we can function as a team together on the pitch. My aim is to play well and contribute to a season that the fans will enjoy.

…the second division:
I’ve followed this league for a while. I don’t know loads about every team, but I have an idea of what to expect. The games are a lot more physical. We’ll probably have more of the ball in a lot of matches and we’ll need to make use of that by being creative.

…creating goals:
I love to set up goals for my teammates. I delivered the most crosses of any player in the Austrian Bundesliga last season. I want to bring this ability to Schalke too. Simon Terodde will be a perfect target for my deliveries, and a few of the other lads are good in the air too.

…the opening game against Hamburger SV:
It’s a really exciting fixture. I’m already looking forward to my debut at the VELTINS-Arena and I hope that as many fans as possible can be there too.