Schöpf: It shows that you always have to keep working hard and that nothing is given to you. The important thing is that the team is successful, because you don’t have individual success if the team doesn’t function properly. Football is a team sport and that’s why it will only work when played as a team.
DFB.de: Despite Leroy Sané’s departure to Manchester City and the unfortunate and lengthy injury absence of Breel Embolo, the competition in Schalke’s midfield is still incredibly high. Max Meyer, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Leon Goretzka are all fighting for a spot in attacking midfield. How do you see your role in Markus Weinzierl’s system?
Schöpf: When I have played, it's been on the right wing. My favourite position, where I see myself performing the best, is in the centre behind the strikers. But since we have such strong competition in the squad, with various players able to play the central role as well, I see myself as more of a right winger at the moment.
DFB.de: Being Austrian, what does the DFB Cup mean to you?
Schöpf: It’s always an interesting competition. Even the supposedly smaller teams are able to make an impact, since it’s just one game where anything can happen. That’s why there are always surprises. But I hope we won’t see a surprise in Nuremberg on Wednesday and that we prevail.
DFB.de: Before you face Nürnberg, you still have a Bundesliga encounter with Mainz to come. What do you expect from game at home to a fellow Europa League side?
Schöpf: Mainz have a very good team and they will provide a real challenge. If we don’t bring 100 percent into the match, we won’t get any points against Mainz. After our last four games, which have all produced good results for us, we want to continue on this run and put in a good performance in front of our home fans. Our 1-0 victory at Krasnodar in the Europa League is definitely a boost in confidence, and now we have to build on that.
Austria international Alessandro Schöpf joined FC Schalke 04 in January from 1. FC Nürnberg. On Wednesday, he will return to face his former team mates in the second round of the DFB Cup. DFB.de editor Thorsten Langenbahn spoke with the 22-year-old about the special allure of the Cup, Nürnberg’s fans and the tough competition in Schalke’s midfield.
DFB.de: Mr. Schöpf, how excited are you to return to the stadium in Nürnberg and walk onto the pitch in front of 50,000 spectators?
Alessandro Schöpf: Very excited. I’m looking forward to seeing the fans, the atmosphere in the stadium and especially the game. I’m sure there will be a good atmosphere.
DFB.de: What will it be like to play against your former club?
Schöpf: I had a great time in Nürnberg and I just look forward to coming back and seeing all my old team mates again. I obviously hope that we will win the game.
DFB.de: Have you had any contact with your former team mates ahead of this game?
Schöpf: We did talk, but not so much about the game. Before the game we each just have to focus on ourselves. After the match we will talk about it a bit more.
DFB.de: So far this season you’ve made three starting appearances in the league, two in the Europa League and in the Cup you were brought on. How do you judge your progress in your quest to make more regular appearances?
Schöpf: It shows that you always have to keep working hard and that nothing is given to you. The important thing is that the team is successful, because you don’t have individual success if the team doesn’t function properly. Football is a team sport and that’s why it will only work when played as a team.
DFB.de: Despite Leroy Sané’s departure to Manchester City and the unfortunate and lengthy injury absence of Breel Embolo, the competition in Schalke’s midfield is still incredibly high. Max Meyer, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Leon Goretzka are all fighting for a spot in attacking midfield. How do you see your role in Markus Weinzierl’s system?
Schöpf: When I have played, it's been on the right wing. My favourite position, where I see myself performing the best, is in the centre behind the strikers. But since we have such strong competition in the squad, with various players able to play the central role as well, I see myself as more of a right winger at the moment.
DFB.de: Being Austrian, what does the DFB Cup mean to you?
Schöpf: It’s always an interesting competition. Even the supposedly smaller teams are able to make an impact, since it’s just one game where anything can happen. That’s why there are always surprises. But I hope we won’t see a surprise in Nuremberg on Wednesday and that we prevail.
DFB.de: Before you face Nürnberg, you still have a Bundesliga encounter with Mainz to come. What do you expect from game at home to a fellow Europa League side?
Schöpf: Mainz have a very good team and they will provide a real challenge. If we don’t bring 100 percent into the match, we won’t get any points against Mainz. After our last four games, which have all produced good results for us, we want to continue on this run and put in a good performance in front of our home fans. Our 1-0 victory at Krasnodar in the Europa League is definitely a boost in confidence, and now we have to build on that.
