Schalke manager Felix Magath has defended his decision to sign
former Germany defender Christoph Metzelder from Real Madrid.
Metzelder, who used to play for Schalke's arch-rivals
Borussia Dortmund, has signed a three-year contract with the Royal
Blues, whom he has joined on a free transfer, but his arrival has
not gone down well with large sections of the Schalke faithful.
They have not forgiven him for selling t-shirts via his own
website ridiculing the Royal Blues when they narrowly missed out on
the league titles in 2001 and 2007, and the verdict is still out on
whether he will be accepted in Gelsenkirchen.
But Magath has called for the fans to back Metzelder, 29, and
help him feel at home for the good of the club.
"I beg you to give him a chance, even if he did not behave
particularly correctly once a few years ago," Magath urged club
members at their annual general meeting this week.
"Together with us, he has the same aim of finishing the
season above our neighbours.
"I am glad that we were able to sign him."
In an interview with the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper,
Metzelder has justified his transfer to Schalke, saying it is the
right step to make after three years largely spent on the sidelines
with Real Madrid.
"After my experience in Madrid, where I had hardly any value
as a player, it was important for me to join a club who wanted me
100%," he said.
"I have been in contact with Felix Magath for the last two
years and he really wanted me, and that was decisive."
Metzelder nevertheless believes it was right to go to Spain,
even if he failed to make the breakthrough into their star-studded
squad.
"It was never really an open competition," he explained. "You
have also got to say that injuries kept getting in the way and I
had the strongest competition in the world for my position.
"I had to recognise that I had reached my personal limit and
that there were players who are better.
"However, these three years in Madrid were right for me."
Metzelder is now looking to revive his career back in the
Bundesliga with Schalke, who will also be playing in the Champions
League next season.
"I am incredibly delighted that this transfer has come off,"
commented Magath.
"We have got to prepare ourselves for the Champions League
and Chris will play a major role in that with his experience."
