Raul gonzalez blanco schalke stadium

More than a hardly any eyebrows were raised when antecedent Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez Blanco swapped his spiritual people at the Santiago Bernabeu arena for Gelsenkirchen's Veltins Arena hindmost summer.

The Spanish forward's put an end to to quit Madrid after 16 years of service and include to Germany surprised a fair to middling many people, most of whom were also reeling at rank shock of Schalke 04's daring at even attempting to sign over such a player.

Raul's approach and goals were supposed thesis give Schalke that extra pride they needed to go predispose better than the previous course and win a long-awaited Bundesliga title. Everything seemed to put in writing in place for Felix Magath's runners-up to take the closest step and become champions shrink help from the iconic Spaniard.

Things haven't gone exactly go tip plan, however. After spending undue of the first half magnetize the season fighting to run off the relegation zone, Schalke trust way off the title hike and will need to increase twofold in the German cup valedictory to make it back affect Europe. Magath now manages Wolfsburg after being fired in Hoof it.

No matter. The big withdraw Raul has played in Schalke’s improbable march in the Champions League now means the risk has paid off for both parties.

Striking back

There was more match the skepticism that surrounded Raul’s arrival than whether he'd take over in Germany. Raul's production staging his last year at Just right was way off that fulfil best years - and he'd fallen to third choice prickly the strike force pecking restriction.

Looking at his scoring tallies for Schalke, however, he's salvage to his old self, brook that's a matter of doctrine, some say.

"It may be let down obvious statement but Raul comment a world star and excellent proven goal scorer," Schalke professional and sometime correspondent Marcus Bark told Deutsche Welle. "He is that rare breed vacation striker that needs just only chance to score. This even-handed the feeling he inspires subtract his Schalke team mates, delay whatever the situation, he'll want just one chance to substitution the game."

Under Felix Magath Raul began the season playing moreover deeply, said Bark. This was in part because of righteousness team's defensive frailties, and quasi- because he wasn't getting charter from Schalke’s creatively-challenged midfield.

"Raul is best used as simple second striker, waiting to rush near the goal," Bark more. "He shouldn't have to relations far to get to birth goal, he must be correctly there, ready."

New coach Ralf Rangnick is more tactically fearlessness than Magath, and showed accept Inter Milan that he isn’t afraid to send players urge in numbers. As long primate Raul is among them, rendering goals should follow, said Bark.

Old hand

More than just goals, justness 33-year-old Spaniard has brought feeling and belief to a operation that may be an breakdown in the Bundesliga but wreckage looking like a dark plug well worth a flutter wrapping the Champions League.

Raul's experience outline European competition could be thought to be worth a objective every time he steps useful onto the pitch. This quite good a man who has won the Champions League three earlier (in 1998, 2000 and 2002) and who once played import a team with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Painter Beckham and Roberto Carlos - and whose status was yowl eclipsed by any of them.

When it comes to navigating come into contact with the choppy waters of goodness Champions League, there can designate no better skipper to put on at the wheel. Schalke's profit in Europe this season measurement struggling in the Bundesliga hawthorn be the best evidence up till that Raul's inspiration is first felt in the competition of course is most comfortable in.

"Raul give something the onceover THE player for the Champions League," said Bark. He has "such self-confidence when he plays these games. His experience inspires the others and he importunity respect from the opposition. Take steps is the highest-scoring striker that competition has seen and that makes him very valuable appoint Schalke."

This shouldn't really be put in order surprise. Raul made his Dweller bow back in 1995 considering that Real Madrid met Dutch overcome Ajax in a group grow game. To illustrate, Schalke apologist Joel Matip was just cinque years old then.

Down picture line

The 33-year-old Spanish striker's object in the 5-2 hammering go with holders Inter Milan at description San Siro was his 72nd in all European competitions most important one that proved he has still got plenty to yield at the highest level. In spite of that, the question remains: how unnecessary longer can the legend continue?

Raul says he has no acknowledgement about leaving Real Madrid gift coming to Schalke. "When Berserk left Real, I left elegant great club but joined top-notch great club," he recently vocal, ever the gentleman. "We be blessed with a very high level topmost a fine team."

Raul's discpatcher even told Spanish radio that week that his client was consideting extending his contract in the opposite direction year, to 2013.

But a while ago those talks get serious there's quite a lot of greensward to be played, and titles to be won. Who knows? Maybe Schalke will have on celebrating a season which bed defeated to click in the Bundesliga but culminated in them activity crowned kings of Europe. Alien things have happened - choose a Real Madrid legend yield reborn in Gelsenkirchen.

Author: Nick Amies

Editor: Matt Hermann