Lars Unnerstall missed the big breakthrough at Schalke, in Holland he is one of the best goalkeepers in the league. In an interview with SPORT BILD, the Twente professional explains why German goalkeepers are so popular in the Eredivisie and how he experienced world champion Mario Götze in Eindhoven. Unnerstall also reveals which world star particularly fascinated him at Schalke and why he would stay in Enschede until 40.
SPORT BILD: There are currently two ex-Schalke players and one ex-Gladbach goalkeeper in the Eredivisie: you with Twente Enschede, Timon Wellenreuther with Willem II Tilburg and Janis Blaswich with Heracles Almelo. Why are the Dutch clubs particularly into German goalkeepers?
Lars Unnerstall (31): Since Gelsenkirchen and Mönchengladbach are close to the German-Dutch border, the club’s scouts and bosses have a particular eye on the border region. If you can’t assert yourself in the first team at Schalke, smaller clubs from the Eredivise in particular sense their chance – like me in Venlo in 2017. There I was in the box straight away, just like now at Twente.
From Venlo you moved to top club PSV Eindhoven in 2018. Why couldn’t you get your way there?
In the first season I did well and won the top spot. Roger Schmitt (PSV trainer since 2020) wanted a goalkeeper who was strong with the ball. He didn’t see that in me. Basically, I ask: “Coach, what do you want: a goalkeeper who plays the balls like Messi or someone who collects points for you and keeps the store closed?” I am the other variant, playing along is not my strength.
Many top goalkeepers, such as their former Schalke colleague Manuel Neuer, are exactly that.
Manu is in a class of its own, of course I tried to learn something from myself and I also want to improve my play. But at some point you will reach your limits. My strengths are control of the penalty area, I’m good on the line and catch a lot of crosses and corner kicks. And I signal to the guys in front of me: “Mistakes can happen to you, I’ll be there and iron them out.” I give my colleagues security, calm on the ball.
At PSV, Mario Götze was her most famous colleague. How did you experience the 2014 World Cup hero, who missed the big breakthrough at Bayern and BVB?
A great boy! Mario is down-to-earth, you could always chat with him, he never did the fat thing with the motto: ‘Hello, I’m world champion Mario and you are nothing.’ What fascinated me about him is his special eye for his teammates. Mario knows exactly when to play which pass to whom, and how to completely clear the way for a colleague. He feels at home in Eindhoven, is not constantly criticized and that’s why he got off to a great start at PSV.
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At Globe Soccer Awards
Lewandowski and Mbappé warn of World Cup reform
Source: Globe Soccer
Was there teasing between you as a former Schalke player and Götze as a former Dortmund resident?
Naturally. Mario had to listen to one or the other saying because of our derby victory in Dortmund in 2012.
Back then, you were the hero in the hat. After a strong game, you stood on the fence with a megaphone and the white headgear that a Schalke fan had thrown on the lawn and yelled into the megaphone. Your most moving soccer moment?
Yes, that was really awesome. I can recommend climbing the fence to anyone who is allowed to.
Do you still have the hat?
Clear! There are already holes in it, but it still holds together. The hat is still in a souvenir box with Schalke jerseys. We are moving into our new house in February. Such memorabilia are hung there. I just have to clarify with my wife where I can do this.
What memories do you have Raúl? At Schalke you played with the Real legend from 2010 to 2012.
I was at the beginning of my professional career and then a world star like Raúl comes into the dressing room. Although I had never played a Bundesliga game, he often sat down next to me, we flattened around and talked about God and the world. I also enjoyed doing extra shifts for Raúl.
In what way?
As a young goalkeeper, I always had to stay out a little longer after training when Raúl and his fellow strikers wanted to shoot a few more shots on goal. The absolute madness was Raúls Lupfer, he just lobbed over me in the six-yard area. To this day I don’t know how he did it.
What else would you like to achieve in your career?
Top leagues like the Bundesliga and the Premier League are always interesting. But I can very well imagine being in goal at Twente until 40. It fits everything here one hundred percent. I live with my family in my hometown Uffeln again, and it only takes 35 minutes by car to get to the training ground. It’s a completely different attitude towards life when you can just say: “Come on, we’ll go to Grandpa and be there in five minutes instead of two and a half hours.” I play at a super club, have my whole family and friends around me. I don’t want to miss that anymore.
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