Edin Džeko on joining Schalke, Miron Muslić, his goalscoring debut and more

Bundesliga: Edin, there’s been a lot of hype surrounding your move to Schalke, with more than 6,000 shirts sold. How do you explain the reception?

Edin Džeko: “It’s hard to explain. I came here with both feet on the ground. I don’t look back at what I’ve done in my career. That’s in the past. You can always improve, and you can always be better, even at 39. I’m happy to be here and to play for Schalke. My first match shows how big this club really is.”

Bundesliga: You only joined Schalke on 22 January. How important was the connection to Miron Muslić?

Džeko: “Even though I had made my decision early on, it was very important for me. It mattered to me that the coach is from Bosnia, and that Nikola [Katić] is also here. I spoke to many people because I wanted to hear different opinions but in the end, I always make the decision myself. My family, especially my wife, always said that I should do what I believe is best for me. For me, there was only Schalke in my head.”

Bundesliga: Although a Bundesliga 2 club, Schalke remains one of the country’s best supported clubs with over 200,000 members. What does it feel like to play in a sold-out Veltins-Arena?

Džeko: “I said in my press conference that I don’t look at it as second division football. When I think about Schalke, this club should always be in the Bundesliga. It’s a great club with an amazing stadium and incredible fans. In my head, it was never about going to the second division, it was about going to play for Schalke, and that’s what matters.”

Watch: Džeko is back!