Moritz Jenz is one of those who don’t shy away from attacks, not only with tackles, but also verbally – this applies in particular to the Revierderby on Saturday. In the kicker interview, Schalke’s central defender explains why he has a penchant for coarse “small talk”.
Prepares for a war of words against BVB: Moritz Jenz.
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Ralf Fährmann, who has been guarding FC Schalke’s goal since the start of the second half of the season, has rarely been challenged so far, his front men intercept a lot. Central defender Moritz Jenz says in the kicker interview (Thursday edition) about the goalkeeper’s part in the new royal blue defensive stability: “He helps us a lot, just through his charisma, his calmness and his huge experience. I hope that we can continue like this did a good job of protecting him from shots on goal.”
Jenz basically has a strong protective instinct. “If one of my team-mates is verbally attacked, I feel the need to protect him,” says the defender. “As a defender, you not only defend the ball, but also your team-mates.” He makes no secret of the fact that for him “a little small talk with opponents on the football field is part of it. I learned that in Great Britain,” says the 23-year-old, who trained at FC Fulham in England, most recently in Scotland for Celtic Glasgow played and had to stand his ground against world stars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
Of course, the words that are used are a bit rougher, no niceties are exchanged.
Moritz Jenz on trash talk
Jenz confirms with a laugh that “small talk” sounds like trivialization: “Of course the words that are used are a bit rougher, there are no niceties exchanged. It’s always important to me that you can shake hands again after the final whistle. If necessary, I have no problem apologizing.”
The Revierderby always has what it takes to make things fly, so Jenz is preparing for a war of words against BVB on Saturday (6.30 p.m., LIVE! at kicker). “It will be an emotional, tough and aggressive encounter, but that’s what you play football for,” he says, emphasizing: “It’s still the biggest game in Germany.”
Of course, Jenz is particularly keen to compete less verbally with the Dortmunders and instead to compete with them on a sporting level. Successful defensive actions, such as a perfectly timed clarification action with his head or his daring tackle against Marcus Thuram in Gladbach, give him the kick. “Every time a lot of adrenaline flows through my body,” says Jenz. “Especially at Schalke, where a lot of value is placed on fighting. And if we then keep a clean sheet, that’s the icing on the cake.”
Before the Revierderby on Saturday, Moritz Jenz explains in the kicker interview (current edition, also as eMagazine) among other things, why things are going so much better with him in defense at Schalke and why he is not afraid of the strong BVB attackers.
