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<p>Transfermarkt Exclusive</p>
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<p dir="ltr">Alexander Schwolow admits that he may not have fully understood the implications of his move from Berlin to Edinburgh this summer. After spending five years in Germany with Hertha Berlin and Union Berlin, the 33-year-old goalkeeper joined Hearts in the Scottish Premiership as a free agent. Surprisingly, both he and the league have seen an unexpected level of success. In his first six games for the Jam Tarts, Schwolow remains unbeaten on Scottish soil, and his team shows no signs of backing down in their surprising title pursuit.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">“Honestly, I didn’t have a clear idea of the club or the league beforehand,” Schwolow revealed in an exclusive interview with <em>Transfermarkt</em>, discussing his move to Hearts. “After my agent’s glowing recommendations about the facilities, fans, and stadium, I agreed to check it out for myself. Hearts is a major traditional club in Scotland, and I quickly recognized the strengths behind it. While at Schalke, I had teammates like Moritz Jenz who shared positive insights about their experiences in Scotland and the incredible atmosphere.” However, it didn’t take long for Schwolow to notice the rapid pace of Scottish football compared to the Bundesliga.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">“The game here is more transitional, with a focus on quick turnovers. It’s end-to-end action, and long balls are integral,” the 33-year-old noted. “If I had to summarize, German football tends to be more tactical and controlled, often emphasizing midfield play or sitting back. Here, high pressing is common, long balls are prevalent, and the pace is quite demanding. Physically, it’s a challenge for outfield players as well as for me as a goalkeeper, with little time to catch my breath—there’s always action in the box. After my first match, I was completely exhausted and almost cramped up in the 70th minute, which had never happened to me before.”</p>
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<p dir="ltr">Despite needing to adapt to the intensity of Scottish football, Schwolow has achieved four clean sheets in his first six league matches for Hearts. He’s joined a remarkable group of new signings who have helped elevate Derek McInnes’ team into title contenders this season. Standout recruits include Cláudio Braga, with nine goals and assists in ten league games, and Alexandros Kyziridis, contributing seven goals in ten matches. In total, 11 new players joined the club this summer, guided by Tony Bloom’s renowned Jamestown Analytics operation.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">“Tony Bloom was not a significant topic in our discussions,” Schwolow noted regarding the mastermind behind Hearts’ impressive start to the season. “The focus was more on what Jamestown Analytics has helped the club achieve. It clearly shows that the management has a comprehensive plan and a vision for squad development.” On Hearts’ revamped squad, Schwolow said: “I was pleasantly surprised by the squad’s quality. Training sessions are at a very high level. We have a large squad with healthy competition, which will benefit us as the season progresses. Plus, Cláudio Braga has hit the ground running and truly deserves his own chant. ‘Kyzi’ [Kyziridis] is a fantastic player too, but beyond their football talent, we have great characters and a strong team spirit. It’s a fantastic group to be a part of.”</p>
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<p dir="ltr">Things are certainly looking bright for Schwolow and Hearts. The club is currently at the top of the Scottish Premiership, holding a six-point lead, having capitalized on the turmoil at Celtic and Rangers. Following Hearts' 3-1 victory over Celtic, the reigning champions parted ways with manager Brendan Rodgers, while their rivals at Ibrox have recently appointed their fifth full-time head coach in four years. However, Schwolow understands that conquering Scottish football is no simple feat, especially for a club outside Glasgow, as it hasn’t been done since 1985. “If the two Glasgow clubs want to, they could strengthen further in January,” Schwolow remarked. “Injuries can happen, and how well the next players adapt is unpredictable. We recognize the strengths of other teams, particularly financially, which is why it’s exceptional to see us at the top right now. But we maintain a grounded approach as a team.”</p>
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<p dir="ltr">While Hearts triumphed over Celtic recently, the structure of the Scottish Premiership means they will face their title contenders from Parkhead three more times before the season ends, alongside another three meetings with a potentially revitalized Rangers. Accordingly, the margins between winning and losing are razor-thin. Nonetheless, Schwolow believes the team he joined just two months ago possesses the right mindset and attitude to uphold the high standards that have allowed them to remain unbeaten in their last ten league matches.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">“Although we’re six points clear at the top, each week is a fight—every match is tightly contested,” said the Hearts goalkeeper. “Yet, this team is incredibly ambitious; we haven’t lost since April. After a recent draw, which was our first in five matches, the atmosphere in the dressing room was quite somber. That showed the hunger of our squad—after coming back from two goals down in a challenging away match, no one was satisfied with just a draw. That’s our mentality, and we carry it into every match and training session. We are demanding, sometimes vocal with one another, but always professional and focused. We prioritize our daily efforts and understand what is needed. That’s our spirit. Of course, the fans are encouraged to dream, and that motivates us even more.”</p>
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