Sead Kolasinac's captaincy could be influential for S04 this season
Back to Gelsenkirchen and already hitting strides with his first appearance after 3 years, Kolasinac might be the leader Schalke needs.
Sead Kolasinac’s first appearance for Schalke on the back of a loan move from Arsenal at the beginning of the January transfer window was a performance that embodied true grit and steel.
The Bosnian arrived in Gelsenkirchen at an extremely testing time and was straight away chosen in the starting eleven to captain a distressed Schalke side against 1899 TSG Hoffenheim. They needed to avoid a draw or defeat – either result that would have seen the Royal Blues equal a record of 31 winless games in the Bundesliga.
A record Tasmania Berlin were keen to hold onto, which they did, thanks to an amazing display by the Kolasinac-led side. The Schalke youth product didn’t let his boyhood club down as he put in a performance worthy of utmost praise.
Kampf ➕ Wille ➕ Zusammenhalt ➡️ ERFOLG! ⚒🔵⚪️#NurDerS04 #GEmeinsam #GibGäs #SeoKol @s04 pic.twitter.com/reZtC74C7G
— Sead Kolašinac (@seadk6) January 9, 2021
The left-back even played a part of the match in midfield towards the end of the match as he influenced the team like a true captain should, commanding his new teammates to give their best and plunging into challenges when it mattered the most.
The full-back won the hearts of the Schalke faithful, including the likes of ex-Schalke player and Arsenal teammate Mesut Ozil, who heaped praise on the defender’s abilities.
⚒🔵⚪️👊🏻
— Sead Kolašinac (@seadk6) January 9, 2021
Kolasinac dictated team morale but it was American teenager Matthew Hoppe who stole the show with a brilliant hattrick.
The Bosnian moved to Arsenal in 2017 on a free transfer after capping more than a hundred times for Schalke 04. Having now gained back his services as a loanee, he will remain at S04 until the end of the season as they look to push themselves out of the relegation zone. The Germans have the opportunity to make his move permanent.