Who is in the “Knappen” box? Every year, month, week, FC Schalke 04 is concerned with the T question. It’s no different before the start of the season in the 2nd Bundesliga. Veteran Ralf Fährmann is fighting for his fitness. A challenger wants to take his chance.
At least quantitatively, Bundesliga relegated Schalke is well positioned in the goalkeeper position. Coach Thomas Reis took five goalkeepers with him to the training camp in Mittersill in Austria. But who will guard the Schalke goal at Hamburger SV at the start of the season in about two weeks is open.
As the “kicker” reports, it comes down to a duel between the regular number 1, Ralf Fährmann, and newcomer Marius Müller (came from FC Luzern). Justin Heekeren, who is planned to be the goalkeeper of the future at Schalke, is not yet ready after a cruciate ligament rupture in winter.
Schalke 04: Goalkeeper Marius Müller not quite sure in the test match
Fährmann’s problem is his many injuries and aches and pains. At the end of the previous season, the 34-year-old was out with adductor problems, in “preparation for preparation” (so Reis) he suffered a torn muscle and had a dental operation.
According to the specialist magazine, he has not yet been able to fully participate in goalkeeper training in Austria. It is questionable whether Fährmann will be fit in time for the start of the resurgence mission.
Müller, who, according to his own statement, is committed to the “challenger role”, wants to seize the opportunity. “I came to stand in the hut at some point,” says the 30-year-old. He is a “courageous goalkeeper, especially with high balls” and has also greatly improved his build-up game in Switzerland, Müller describes his own advantages. For S04 he wants to be “an anchor point” that “the teammates can always rely on”.
But: In the 0: 2 test against FC Copenhagen, Müller noticed some uncertainties. Rice now has a choice.