Mascarell: "Revierderby is the perfect game to start again"

The Spanish midfielder discussed the upcoming game on Matchday 26 with bundesliga.com as well as his pride in being named Schalke's captain midway through this season.

bundesliga.com: Do you think you are well-prepared for the league to restart and matches behind doors?

Omar Mascarell: "Everybody's situation is different, but we're ready. We've been waiting for this moment for a long time, and now we can start the Bundesliga soon. We'll miss football a lot, but in recent weeks we worked very hard, and I think everybody in the team is fit and focused on the restart. We also see the restart as extra motivation. In the team, everybody knows we need to follow the good rules set out by Bundesliga and by Schalke. Anyway, the team is ready and we cannot wait to play. I know we'll do very well."

bundesliga.com: Do you think the current changes are necessary? Like the wages cut or short-time work. Are you surprised that all these changes happen, and you have to accept those changes?

Mascarell: "Yes, right now at the moment, with the epidemic everything has changed, and we have to do things that usually we didn't do before. But we're a team not only on the pitch but also outside the pitch. We're together. We'll do everything we can to help our community in this situation. The players and all employees are united."

bundesliga.com: What kind of changes do you expect in football after this current situation? For example, what will be like in the next season for the club and for yourself?

Mascarell: "I don't know what will happen. But for sure, football will have to change a little bit. This is a hard situation for everyone and you can see the effects. For players, I think at this moment we have to think about the present. The present is that we'll play next weekend. We'll start the Bundesliga. We all want it. After we finish this season, I hope we can finish in a good position. And after that, we'll see what will happen. But I think at the moment, nobody knows what will happen in the future. We have to wait. And the important thing is to finish this season because it'll be very important for us, for the club, for the fans and for everyone from Bundesliga."

bundesliga.com: In this time, how do you keep your form, keep your fitness, to be fresh?

Mascarell: "We have different kinds of training. We train in small groups, we also did good exercises with the ball and many runs. I think the staff did a good job because we trained a lot. So I think the team is very fit. And we also miss football a lot. I know that players want to play as soon as possible. They're focused and motivated. And everybody is ready to be 100 per cent ready for the first game."

bundesliga.com: As a Spanish player, you have established yourself in the Bundesliga, and that's not an easy thing. You have experienced many difficulties in your career, such as injuries, so how have you been able to face these difficulties, and how do you overcome them?

Mascarell: "Yeah, that's true. When I was in Frankfurt, I had two great seasons there. I had an Achilles' tendon injury, then I came back stronger than before. It was a good time for me. After that, I signed for a big club like Schalke. Last season was difficult for me. But I always gave everything in training. I was waiting for my opportunity. And yeah, this is how everything changed for me. When the new season came, they believed in me, and from the beginning, I started to play in the pre-season. Also, we had a good start in the league. The team changed a lot. Everyone got a lot of confidence. And this is the most important factor I think. This is because of the staff. Everyone in the team loves them. And this is the key to our good performances."

bundesliga.com: How do you compare Spanish and German football? What do you think the similarities and differences are between them?

Mascarell: "It's totally different. I think Bundesliga is a mix of English and Spanish football. Spanish football likes to have possession. The teams like to have the possession, to have the ball, to play calmly and wait for opportunities and chances. And Bundesliga teams score more goals and do more running. Also in the last years, the Bundesliga is improving a lot. The teams have a lot of quality. They also like to have the possession of the ball. And I think Bundesliga is doing better in quality every year. The teams have a lot of good players. And this is why Bundesliga is a very hard and competitive league because we have 10 plus teams that can be playing for Europe."

bundesliga.com: You haven't been at Schalke for too long, so why do you think David Wagner chose you as the captain?

Mascarell: "Yeah, to be honest, I was a little shocked because last season wasn't a good season for me, I didn't play a lot. And you can see just in one season everything changed completely. From this season I felt that the staff, the coach, everyone trusts me. And I worked very hard from the beginning. I'm very proud of this. I know that I have to prove that I'm ready for this job in the club. And my teammates help me every day, and I feel very comfortable with that. For me, it's a big chance to be an important player in this club."

bundesliga.com: What are your hopes for the rest of the season?

Mascarell: "First, to win the Revierderby. Because I think it's very important to us, and it's also a very important game in this season for us, for the club and to please our fans. I know how important it is. Then I hope we can keep going in a good way. I think we've had a good season so far and we're fighting to be in European places. This is in our head. We have to fight for it and I hope when this season ends, we're in the Europa League at a minimum."

bundesliga.com: You just mentioned the Revierderby. What are your thoughts on having this special match during this special period of time?

Mascarell: "I think there'll be no better way to start the Bundesliga. It's our derby. Although I know it'll be different and a little bit hard for us, because we won't play with our fans. I know how important this match is to our fans, but it's still a perfect game to start. This game gives you motivation and players are excited for next week because we know which game we're going to have. I think everyone is ready and focused on winning the game. We'll be totally prepared for this game and I hope we can take three points. It'll be perfect because I know our fans will support us from home, and winning will be very important to them."

bundesliga.com: Do you feel even more responsibility as the captain, having the duty of getting your team up for the game?

Mascarell: "Yes, because it's a big game. I know for our fans it's the biggest game of the season. They're waiting for this game and I know if we win, they'll be full of happiness. At that moment, there'll be a lot of nerves, and it's important for the players with more experience to show an example to young players that 'okay, it's an important game, but to keep our feet on the pitch – to keep calm.' Because we need to play our football and we trust our football. We can win the game for sure."