FC Schalke 04 beat Eintracht Braunschweig 1:0 and gained some breathing space in the relegation battle. Thomas Ouwejan just looked on. Once again.

FC Schalke 04 secured an important three points in the fight to avoid relegation with a 1-0 win over Eintracht Braunschweig on Saturday. That also made Schalke’s Dutchman Thomas Ouwejan happy. Other things did not.

“The three points were very important. We really needed them,” said Ouwejan, who had watched the game from the substitutes’ bench for 90 minutes, afterwards. “It wasn’t an easy game, it really wasn’t. But Kenan Karaman did a great job. He’s very important for us. We needed this win.”

Ouwejan, on the other hand, did not need to be on the substitutes’ bench again. After playing a strong game on the left side of defense in the home game against Hamburger SV (0:2) two weeks ago, especially offensively, with two aluminum goals, he had to make way for the Englishman Derry John Murkin again before the away game at 1. FC Kaiserslautern (1:4) after the end of his suspension.

Ouwejan had a question for Schalke coach Karel Geraerts: “I spoke to him. He told me that I actually did quite well against Hamburg, that I defended quite well and was also dangerous with the ball. He told me that it was very difficult for him, but that he didn’t choose me,” explained the Dutchman after the game against Braunschweig.

Geraerts opted for Murkin again in this game. In the current 4-2-2-2 system, Ouwejan could also play in front of Murkin on the left. But here, too, he seems to be at most the third choice for the Schalke coach. Because when Geraerts switched to this position after Schalke took a 1-0 lead, he brought on Tobias Mohr – and not Ouwejan.

“That would also be an option for me. I always played in midfield when I was younger,” said Ouwejan. “I just want to play. It doesn’t matter to me where. Somewhere on the left would be good for me. I work hard. It was bitter for me that I didn’t play twice after Hamburg. That wasn’t easy, but I’m working hard and I hope to play again quickly and then get back to my best. “

He still had something to laugh about. After the game, a fan gave him a self-drawn portrait of Ouwejan and his girlfriend. Even though he looked more like former Schalke player Marco Höger with his thick sunglasses, the Alkmaar native was delighted with the framed picture. As a thank you, they took a photo together. Ouwejan also pulled his jersey out of his pocket and gave it to the S04 supporter. It was not a match shirt.

But it could have been something of an early farewell present for both sides. Because Ouwejan’s contract expires at the end of the season. Has he already thought about the summer? “I just want to play now, secure relegation and everything else will come later. “