Marcin Kaminski is back in demand at Schalke 04. In Ulm, he was part of the starting eleven, and the Royal Blues kept a clean sheet.
Marcin Kaminski should have come to terms with the fact that his time at FC Schalke 04 is quietly coming to an end. He celebrates his 33rd birthday in January and his contract ends in June 2025. All three S04 coaches this season, Karel Geraerts, Jakob Fimpel and Kees van Wonderen, have mainly relied on other, younger central defenders alongside defensive leader Tomas Kalas.
Kaminski had already been deposed as vice-captain in the summer, the criticism from the fans was huge. “What happened before the season was not easy for me. But I’m a professional footballer and I have to respect that. And I did,” he said. And now he is even in demand again.
Kaminski is the longest-serving Schalke player after Michael Langer, playing his fourth season in royal blue. No one from the current squad has played more often for Schalke than he has – 80 games, scoring eight goals. But this season, others were in demand: Ibrahima Cissé, for example – now he is absent due to illness, was sent from Fimpel to the U23.
The young additions Felipe Sanchez and Martin Wasinski are not up to the current crisis. Henning Matriciani (Mannheim) and Leo Greiml (Breda) were loaned out. Now Kaminski is playing: “Sometimes I played, sometimes I didn’t. Now I’m back. And I have to take my chance.”
Before the DFB Cup game against Augsburg, his record looked bleak: Of eleven competitive matches, he had only started two, was twice brought on late and otherwise sat on the bench. In Augsburg, he defended alongside Kalas – until his substitution in the 58th minute. At that point, the score was still 0-1, and the goal was disallowed due to a faulty pitch marking. In Ulm (0-0), the defense organized by Kalas and Kaminski kept a clean sheet. Kalas and he complement each other well, both are experienced – and while Kalas’ strengths are in the air and one-on-one duels, Kaminski also has qualities in building play with a good left foot. “We can’t say that Ulm was good – but it was a small step that we didn’t concede a goal. Up front, we have quality, we have to put the guys in situations where they can score,” Kaminski explained.
The former Polish international is valued at the club for his calm manner. But is he also in demand as a leader – even though he is no longer vice-captain? There were hardly any leaders left on the pitch. “I know that I also have to take responsibility, I’m the second oldest. That’s definitely an area where we can do more,” he said. Especially when he’s back on the pitch himself.
However, Kaminski has not met with nothing but approval from Schalke fans. Above all, his declining speed with age is the main point of criticism – and indeed: Kaminski often looks out of place against fast opponents, as he no longer wins sprint duels. But he is no slower than two of his young competitors – figures from bundesliga.de confirm training impressions: Kaminski reached a top speed of 31.18 km/h – Sanchez, who got more minutes in the second division, only 30.89 km/h. Martin Wasinski even reached only 28.5 km/h.
Schalke will face Jahn Regensburg on Sunday
Marcin Kaminski – still an underrated leader? Or a thing of the past and proof that the squad policy of sports director Ben Manga is not working? One thing is certain: he has a good chance of starting against Jahn Regensburg on Sunday (1:30 p.m./Sky). “We’re going out on the pitch and will do everything we can to take the fans with us and get three points,” Kaminski promises.