Schalke captain Höwedes: “We’re happy with our development”

After the 1-1 draw against SC Freiburg, things turned Christmassy for Schalke. On the giant video screen, the Royal Blues saw their own version of the Christmas story being performed. One of the main roles was performed by captain Benedikt Höwedes - as Joseph.

And the 28-year-old knew, of course, that the question about their amusing performance would come. “That was embarrassing,” said the Germany international, after laughing. The focus was obviously the draw against the newly promoted team on matchday 15 in the Bundesliga and the fourth winless game in a row for Schalke.

The World Cup winner speaks in an interview on DFB.de about the 1-1 draw against Breisgauer, Schalke’s record this season, and the last game of this year on Tuesday (20:00 CET) at Hamburger SV.

Question: 1-1 against SC Freiburg: Is that a little bit under the bar, Benedikt Höwedes?

Benedikt Höwedes: I don´t think that we can be condemned for the 1-1 draw, because Freiburg earned that point. They were unbelievably strong and continued to play and put pressure on us throughout the 90 minutes. We were strong defensively and they didn’t have many big chances, but they capitalised on one. It’s brutally hard to play from behind in these conditions, however, we showed heart, threw everything at it and were rewarded in the end.

Question: What were the problems?

Höwedes: We weren’t consistent enough in the final third. We had plenty of play down the wing but the critical crosses didn´t meet any feet or heads, only the defenders. The problem isn’t that we dropped two points against Freiburg, it’s the 15 points from the first five games that we lost.

Question: Schalke now sit eleventh. How does that affect your mindset?

Höwedes: It’s natural to be unsatisfied with all of this. However, we’re happy with the development that we have taken as a team. Had we played the whole season the way we played after week six, we could be somewhere else now. We have to now somehow make up for the 15 lost points from the beginning of the season.

Question: Thilo Kehrer made a mistake that lead to the goal. What advice would you give him now?

Höwedes: He shouldn’t bury his head in the sand, he played a good game. He was tough with his challenges and his passing was good. These things happen. He wasn’t the only player to blame for the goal. We have eleven men on the pitch who could have prevented it before it got there. He might look disappointed, but I wouldn’t say that it’s his fault.

Question: He’s moved back to centre-back. Isn’t that a lot of responsibility for a 20-year-old?

Höwedes: That’s why we play with a back three, that way we can help each other. This wasn’t quite the case in this situation, because we left him a little bit exposed. It was working well with him in the middle. It allowed me to push up the pitch in the second half.

Question: Sporting director Christian Heidel mentioned the running stats from the game: Freiburg ran 128 kilometres, Schalke 124. Did you feel the game was that intense?

Höwedes: I’m really knackered, but I thought that Freiburg especially ran an incredible amount. They pressured us for the entire 90 minutes. That was really impressive, and I can only take my hat off to them for that. They really gave their all.

Question: On Tuesday you’re playing against Hamburger SV. What do you have to do differently?

Höwedes: We have to be more clinical in front of goal. This is the main problem from the last four games. The final pass and actually getting the ball over the line - that will be the difference in this game. We have to make our own luck.

Question: As captain, do you think new signings during the winter break will be useful?

Höwedes: We have two players coming back so we need to keep them in mind. But most of the time, injured players need to take their time coming back in order to regain their rhythm. I can think of maybe one or two possibilities, but I don’t think anything’s too pressing. In any case, I’m not the man who makes the decision.