Van Wonderen explains his decision
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Justin Heekeren has become the winner of the highly controversial casting of Schalke 04 goalkeepers. The 23-year-old from Xanten remains a regular in the Royal Blues box and won in the double test in recent weeks against Ron-Thorben Hoffmann (25 years), who, according to coach Kees van Wonderen, made the decision « very professionally ». « .
Together with goalkeeping coach Stephan Loboué, van Wonderen evaluated the two candidates according to different criteria. According to the S04 coach, it was “above all about performance on the pitch, behavior in the face of criticism, role in the team”. Overall, Heekeren is one step ahead of its competitor Hoffmann. With him, Heekeren has “a very good representative”. According to van Wonderen, Hoffmann also “performed well.”
Heekeren started the season in the second division, in which Schalke stumbled again as a starting goalkeeper. In nine matches so far, they have had to go behind on 19 occasions and kept a clean sheet for the first time last Friday in the 0-0 draw at Ulm. The duel with the newly promoted team and the cup match in Augsburg (0:3) were the two matches that van Wonderen declared as decisive missions for Heekeren. Hoffmann had the opportunity to prove himself in the championship matches against Hannover 96 (0:1) and against Greuther Fürth (3:4).
In mid-October, van Wonderen announced the unusual step of granting two appearances to the two candidates in the regular spot between positions. « I think it’s important to really know them (the goalkeepers) and their personality, » said the Dutch coach, who is still waiting for his first victory with the Knappen after four competitive matches. With just one point since taking office, Schalke recently returned to the bottom of the table under the new coach. With two points ahead of Regensburg, last place, the Gelsenkirchen team is in the relegation zone. On Sunday there will be a direct clash with Jahn at Schalke.