Under Thomas Reis, Thomas Ouwejan has lost his regular place at Schalke. After relegation, the left-back wants to take a new chance.

Thomas Reis usually doesn’t mince his words when assessing his teams’ games. Thomas Ouwejan (26) in particular knows that this can sometimes be unpleasant for his players.

Because the Dutchman disappointed in FC Schalke 04’s match against TSG Hoffenheim (0:2) in the last Bundesliga season, he was substituted after just 36 minutes and then publicly told off by Reis. “I would have liked to see a bit more physicality, to stand up to it,” Reis said of Ouwejan. The latter’s two-footedness would have destabilised the whole defence that day.

Reis also gave the left-back a damning post-season report card. “He has not had a good year,” says Reis. “In his appearances, he was not able to show what he had previously excelled at in the second division.” Ouwejan had impressed in the 2021/22 promotion season (three goals, eight assists), but lacked a lot in the Bundesliga. In the second half of the season, he lost his regular place to Henning Matriciani, whom Reis actually sees more centrally or on the right in defence, after two lengthy injury breaks and poor performances.

Now the 26-year-old Ouwejan wants to make a new start. This required an exchange with the coach. “I spoke with Thomas Reis,” Ouwejan revealed after the Schalke test match in Bocholt (2:2). He did not want to comment on the content, however, it seems to have borne fruit. The Schalke coach recently made it clear that he plans to work with the Dutchman. Schalke does not currently have another player in his position in the squad. The signing of another left-back is therefore probable.

In Bocholt, Ouwejan came on in the second 45 minutes. He did not concede a goal when he was on the pitch. But nobody on the Schalke side could be satisfied with the 2-2 draw against the regional league team. “It’s not a good result, it wasn’t good. It has to be better,” said Ouwejan. His coach certainly saw it that way too.