Schalke: 3 unsung heroes of the 2019/20 season
By Josh Sippie
2. Bastian Oczipka
There’s one obvious reason why Bastian Oczipka doesn’t get the notice he deserves—Jonjoe Kenny. When the guy across from you is younger, more mobile, and the subject of constant transfer speculation, you are going to go largely unnoticed. It’s just part of the situation you’re in.
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But the biggest endorsement of Oczipka’s value to the club came when Schalke handed him a new contract midway through the season.
With Benjamin Stambouli, Daniel Caligiuri and Bastian Oczipka all on the last year of their deal, it was pretty widely assumed that they would all three walk at the end of the year. Stambouli and Caligiuri are still ticketed for an exit. There is talk of extensions, but nothing has come through just yet.
Oczipka was locked down months ago. And that’s because he has been so incredibly consistent on that left flank. So much so that we never even have to think about it. He’s a tremendous defender and he gets forward effectively.
Best of all, though, his delivery is tremendous. He whips balls into the box like crazy and they are always put into dangerous areas. Just get him that target man (*cough* Arkadiusz Milik *cough*) and watch the assists pour in.
On to No. 1.