Kuranyi targets Europe ahead of goals crown
17.02.2010
At the moment Kevin Kuranyi is possibly better than he has even been in Schalke. Yet despite his run of form the striker is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. "It's about the team, not about me," the 27-year-old stressed before adding with a beaming smile: "I'm very happy that things are going so well for us just now."
Schalke's undefeated run continues, but Kuranyi is giving no thought to changing the club's pre-season goals. "In summer we said we wanted a place in Europe. And we're sticking to that," the striker said. "We aren't discussing any other targets."
To make sure the European dream becomes a reality, Schalke's number 22 is hoping to score as often as possible in the remaining twelve Bundesliga fixtures. "I'm pleased whenever I can help the team with my goals," said Kuranyi. "And it's also a good feeling when I make a goal and work well for the team." This was most recently the case against Cologne on Sunday, when he set up Jefferson Farfan for the all-important second goal in a 2-0 win.
"We're a team, it doesn't matter who gets the goals," continued Kuranyi, who has often benefited from passes from his Peruvian strike partner in previous weeks. "Jeff and I have a great relationship both on and off the pitch," he explained. Which also goes for the rest of the squad. "We've simply gelled as a team this year."
The aerially dangerous striker could add a personal cherry on the cake by finishing the season as the Bundesliga's top scorer, having eleven goals to his name already, just two fewer than current leader Stefan Kiessling of Bayer Leverkusen. But Kuranyi dismisses any such thoughts. "To be totally honest, that honour is not all that important to me. If I had the choice, I'd much rather have a place in Europe than the golden shoe."
