Edin Dzeko is set to be a key player in FC Schalke 04’s return to the Bundesliga – even if he himself is being cautious in his comments.
Edin Dzeko won the championship with VfL Wolfsburg in 2009. Since then, the 39-year-old Bosnian’s career has gone from strength to strength. Manchester City, AS Roma, Inter Milan, Fenerbahce Istanbul, AC Florence. But he was no longer in demand at Fiorentina. “I don’t want to talk too much about this topic. It didn’t go the way I wanted it to, the way Florence wanted it to. That’s a different experience. Now I’m here and looking ahead,” he said at his inaugural press conference on Thursday.
This allowed Schalke to seize the opportunity in the winter and actually bring the striker to Berger Feld in Gelsenkirchen. Dzeko will once again be playing for the championship, but this time in the second division. “I don’t see whether I’m playing in the first or second Bundesliga. I only see that I’m playing for Schalke 04. It’s something else to play for Schalke. Awesome stadium, these fans who are always there, just like in Berlin. I’m really looking forward to the months ahead,” he said. Even during his time at Wolfsburg, he perceived Schalke as an interesting club. One that he naturally wants to bring back to the Bundesliga with all his experience and world-class talent. Even if he doesn’t say so. “The second half of the season is always more difficult than the first, everywhere I’ve played. Schalke is in first place, so now there’s a little more pressure. We always have to take it one game at a time; looking ahead doesn’t help. Kaiserslautern is the most important game of the season. Once that’s over, Bochum will be the most important game of the season.”
He is expected to provide immediate assistance. “Settling in won’t be a problem. I’ve seen and experienced a lot in my career,” he said. He is confident that he can contribute a lot to Schalke. “There has to be pressure. Pressure is sometimes positive for me. Pressure can always push you forward a bit. Expectations are very high, but you have to get through it. It’s all in your head, you have to deal with that.“
Dzeko will train with the team for the first time on Friday, January 23. Will he be ready for the squad on Sunday, January 25, at 1:30 p.m. against 1. FC Kaiserslautern? ”We’ll have to see what the coach plans and what’s best for Schalke. For now, I’m just happy that I can train with the team tomorrow,“ said the new signing cautiously. In any case, an injury shouldn’t be a problem: ”I got kicked 20 days ago and had an MRI, which only diagnosed a bruise. I’ve been training again for ten days, so it won’t be a problem.”