Crowd favorite
©IMAGO
After his loan to third division club Waldhof Mannheim, crowd favorite Henning Matriciani is back at FC Schalke 04 this season – but didn’t play in the second division team until last weekend. A personnel shortage could mean that the 25-year-old right-back could play a minute or two more than the twelve in the 1-0 win against Elversberg before the winter break. After that, the former U21 national player’s plans should move towards the next step in his career.
“The time of suffering is quite good,” Matriciani now told “WAZ” about his season so far. The role he plays in the squad was clearly communicated, but you “do it” to play and prove yourself. “But I still enjoy it, I always give it my all and enjoy playing with the boys in training.”
Actually, according to the newspaper, Schalke and Matriciani had already been looking for a solution in the summer – but couldn’t find it. An attractive new club for the defensive player did not materialize. They should part ways no later than summer 2026, when his contract will expire. There should be more personnel on the defensive flanks in the winter, perhaps even then. Adrian Gantenbein (24) is on the right track, and Tidiane Touré (21) is also available to coach Miron Muslic, but has not yet made it into the squad. Timo Becker (28), who is actually a central defender but also impressed on the right side for a long time in Kiel, is still out with a torn medial ligament.
In the meantime, Matriciani is hoping for more substitutions: “Getting playing minutes is the ultimate goal. A lot can always happen in football, as you can see from my path. I was at the bottom and then I felt like I started to the top. The most important thing is not to lose the fun and hope, that’s why I keep going.”
Matriciani continues to be a crowd favorite at Schalke
Matriciani received a lot of support from the fans both in the Veltins Arena and in the friendly against FC Twente (0-1). “It gives me goosebumps again, I can’t even describe it,” he said. In the Transfermarkt forum, users see things realistically. “cologne04” writes: “As a footballer, Henning is certainly far away from the second division level, as a variety of qualities are required there. However, I had a rather good feeling when he came on as a substitute in the stadium, as I prefer a Henning in the final phase of a game with expected opponent pressure, who is a help in defense work with his defensive skills alone, than someone who is more comfortable with the ball but can’t really defend.”
“D3SIR0” finds some of the criticism of Matriciani exaggerated: “In terms of football, I’m definitely not Henning’s biggest fan, but personally I’m 100 percent behind him. He will know that he’s rather limited compared to the rest. But when he’s on the pitch, he gives it his all and isn’t a fair-weather player, and that’s what I appreciate about Henning.”
I’m more wondering where you see the criticism. Actually, no one writes anything other than you. You just give the whole thing a positive spin. Basically there are no different positions here.
– Matriciani is technically limited. Everyone sees it that way.
– Matriciani is a role model of commitment and zeal. Everyone sees it that way.
The difference is “he was in the squad because there are so many injuries” vs. “he was in the squad because he deserved it through good training”
The second position…
