Suat Serdar spoke about his difficult debut season at FC Schalke 04 on the fringes of the U21 European Championship in Italy, highlighting the move from Domenico Tedesco to Huub Stevens on the coaching chair.
“The change of coach has done me good. I got better into the team and was able to show myself,” said Serdar, who was one of the best Schalker players in a disappointing season in his first season in the royal blue jersey after his change in the summer of Mainz 05 (10.5 million Euro transfer) and was in the starting eleven in 27 competitive games (2 goals).
With David Wagner as coach on Schalke, the top positions in the table are to be targeted again in the coming season. Another breakdown season, which ended S04 in 14th place in May with a point advantage over the relegation rank, “will not happen again”, Serdar promised.
The 22-year-old has already had contact with Wagner – even though his current focus is on the U21 European Championships in Italy. “He congratulated me on my nomination for the U21 squad. Even after the Denmark game, he wrote me. Personally I have not talked to him yet, but he has made a very sympathetic impression. I’m looking forward to the season,” said Serdar.
In the opening victory of the DFB juniors against Denmark (3:1), he sat on the bench for the time being, but came into play for Mahmoud Dahoud in the final phase. In addition to his first impressions of Wagner, Serdar also revealed that his favourite player was Paul Pogba.
“I like to watch his videos. Of course, he has a stronger stature and is much more advanced than me, but our playing styles are similar. His aggressiveness and his dribbling forward are very special. My goal is to reach this level at some point,” explained Serdar.
