Muslic on Lasme: "I never wanted him gone"
After the victory over Bochum, the mood at Schalke was upbeat. Coach Miron Muslic spoke about the Royal Blues' progress and singled out striker Bryan Lasme for praise. Goalkeeper Loris Karius shone with a penalty save – but was still frustrated.
Congratulations: S04 coach Miron Muslic hugs match winner Bryan Lasme. IMAGO/Maximilian Koch
Six points from three games: FC Schalke can be satisfied with their start to the season. After the 2-1 victory over Bochum, coach Miron Muslic told Sky that "the win is confirmation that we're on the right track. Both feet on the ground, but hungry for more. That was the message—nothing more, nothing less."
The fact that the win was ultimately enough was also thanks to substitute Bryan Lasme, who scored the decisive 2-1 goal as a substitute. The Franco-Ivorian was recently considered a potential sell-off player, but is now making a comeback at Schalke.
Muslic's praise for Lasme"I never wanted him gone," Muslic clarified, adding that the attacker "brings exactly what we need. Switching vertically after winning the ball, attacking from deep. For that, you need players who can maintain that intensity, not just a willingness to sprint. It's a lot about confidence, and we try to give him that week after week."
And Lasme is currently paying back. After his 1-0 cup winner against Lokomotiv Leipzig, he's now also found the net in the league. For Muslic, it's clear: "Lasme is on a very good path. And you have to bring in a striker with confidence."
Karius and his penalty secretSelf-confidence is also something goalkeepers need—along with match practice, of course. Loris Karius is on the way to gaining both. The S04 keeper shone before halftime by saving a penalty against Kevin Vogt . Afterward, he revealed that he was annoyed about being robbed by Marlon Ritter in the 1-0 defeat to Kaiserslautern a week ago.
Against Bochum, he wanted to "draw one" again. He also revealed that he even had Vogt in mind as a shooter. "The last two were missed, and I thought maybe they'd be replaced. Then I also looked at Vogt."
But with penalties, "a bit of luck is always involved," Karius admitted, and said, referring to his saved penalty: "I thought he would shoot it a bit more accurately. That way, I still got both hands on it and was able to steer it well. It wasn't the hardest of my career." Vogt must have realized that, too. "I have to shoot it better," he correctly assessed his attempt. It was "solid," but "not a great shot." "I have to do better."
Karius was also annoyed, though – specifically, about Gerrit Holtmann's 1-0 goal. First, he parried Mats Pannewig's powerful long-range shot, but then Holtmann's tap-in thwarted him with a shot into the near post. "I wouldn't say it was a mistake, but of course I'm annoyed. My goal is to keep the ball," said the goalkeeper, pointing out that it was only his third game in four months. "With match practice, that doesn't happen anymore."
