Former Schalke 04 assistant coach talks about KP Boateng's 'swagger' at the club

Former Schalke 04 assistant coach Sven Hübscher has been shedding light on Kevin-Prince Boateng's enormous self-confidence and influence during his time at the club five years ago.

The 33-year-old, currently on loan at Turkish side Be?ikta?, enjoyed a fabulous run of form at the club between 2013-2015.

The former AC Milan star blossomed at the Royal Blues, scoring six goals in 46 appearances while contributing significantly to the team's drive.

And former Schalke assistant coach Sven Hübscher, has been shedding some light on the Ghanaian's time at the Veltins-Arena.

"He was enormously confident, but also open, polite and reserved. He expresses his opinion when he thinks it is necessary but always keeps his decency. Back then we got it as the cornerstone on which our many young players can orientate themselves, " he told Goal and Spox

"We talked about him for the first time in the training camp in Doha. When it turned out that there was an opportunity to get it, Jens Keller called him. Boateng just said: "Coach, put the number nine jersey aside, we'll rock the thing." He was exactly the experienced player we needed. I still remember his first game against Leverkusen in front of a home crowd.

"He was playing six at the time. In one situation, Max Meyer did not allude to him, but a pass to the outside. Since the situation was near the bank, it was very easy to hear him shouting: "Max, play me over. Max! Max!" Meyer only replied that Boateng had been covered. He replied: "I don't give a shit, play me over." We missed such a player before.

However, Boateng's form slowed in the latter of his two-year contract and that has been explained.

"These were not human reasons, we simply could not get his susceptibility to injury under control. He was no longer as efficient as we were and he would have wished for it, because even under Roberto Di Matteo, whom he always addressed as a Mister, he was an important personality.

"Through his self-confidence. He didn't care whether we played against Leverkusen or Bayern Munich. He didn't give a shit. He simply had this self-image, which everyone has to orientate on him. This helped our entire team at this point. And of course, he could also kick very well.

" That happened, but always respectfully. He expressed his opinion, but did not carry it out in front of the team, but came into the coaching cabin and explained his view of things. That is what makes leaders like him or Höwedes back then. His word was important for both the coach and the teammates. He also grabbed colleagues and said: "Stop playing this shitty kid's football." Then he gave them a brief and concise approach, which then also sat. It's worth gold for a trainer.