Benjamin Stambouli has been leading out Schalke as captain since the turn of the year. The Frenchman will be wearing the armband on Saturday when the Royal Blues return to the Signal Iduna Park, with far more than just bragging rights at stake for both sides this time.

Speaking exclusively to bundesliga.com, Stambouli discussed the Revierderby, what it would mean for Schalke's difficult season if they can win it, and whether he'd re-live victory last season every day for the rest of his life if he could...

bundesliga.com: What makes the Revierderby so special?

Benjamin Stambouli: "Everything that starts in the week of the derby, everything smells different. We already see it now, there are more people in the training ground, the people come to support us more and to speak to us. This is a special week and it'll be a special weekend. And in the game you know that everything you do can go down in history, I'd say. Positive, negative, you never know what can happen in the derby and you have to give everything to make history, and Schalke fans will remind you of that."

bundesliga.com: How important is this game for the Schalke fans?

Stambouli: "I'd say that this is the most important game of the year for the fans and for the players. We know we've had a really hard season but with this game, if we win it, we know that the season is safe. This is something really special and it's really typical of this region I think. We don’t prepare the game in the same way as the other ones. We know the weekend will be crazy but this is why we do this job."

Benjamin Stambouli (l) was able to celebrate Revierderby victory with Schalke after a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in 2017/18. - imago/Uwe Kraft

bundesliga.com: Do the emotions surrounding this game get to you as a player?

Stambouli: "I think in our job you have to try to take only the positive emotions that can help you to perform. If the emotion is something that hurts you, you have to leave it off the pitch. I remember the 4-4 draw from last year, in the first half we made a lot of mistakes and it was really hard for us to get our heads around. But at half-time, we spoke together and we left this negative emotion to one side, or we used it in a way that helped us. Then when we came back in the second half and we had so much strength that we came back in this game. Emotions are part of the game, but you have to use it in a way that helps the team."

bundesliga.com: What would it mean to the fans to win this game, especially in your current situation?

Stambouli: "For me, it will be like a double victory. Because a win in this situation is something that can really help us out in the table, but it'll also be a big victory in our hearts because we know this game is a derby and it’s so special that you're waiting six months to play it. To win it is just something amazing. I had the chance to live it and this is something that if I could live it every day, I would sign up straight away."

bundesliga.com: How is the current situation for you as players?

Stambouli: "The situation is that we are six points in front of VfB Stuttgart and there are still four games left, so everything's possible. We know and we have to be really careful and try to win some games as soon as possible to take some points to save the club, that next year we can play in the Bundesliga and try to have a great season again. So, we have to be really focused on every game and stay in the Bundesliga. This is now our target."

Watch: Re-live Schalke's unforgettable 4-4 comeback against BVB last season!

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bundesliga.com: Can you explain the reasons behind Schalke's problems this season?

Stambouli: "I don’t know exactly what the reason is, otherwise I would change it. But I would say that this season, we had a different calendar with a lot of games and also last year we surprised a lot of teams with our game and our style. This year a lot of teams expect us to be like “Vizemeister”, second in the league. So, every time Schalke comes they're waiting for us and they play a different game than last year. So, we also had bad luck with a lot of injuries and I think sometimes football is played with only small details and not everything went our way this year. Now we're in the situation that we have to give everything on the pitch, try to be focused in our daily life and try to get out of this bad situation."

bundesliga.com: How would you describe the club, its culture and the fans?

Stambouli: "I would say that there's a big culture. When we arrive in this region, we feel the whole history of the region. It’s something great and we have so much to learn about the history of the people, but also the history of the club. I think it’s important to know it and to understand it to play for Schalke."

bundesliga.com: What's the atmosphere like for you in the Veltins Arena?

Stambouli: "It’s a big atmosphere. I think we're so lucky to play every two weeks at home. What's good is that with Schalke I experienced some really amazing moments and also some really hard moments. And I can say that at every moment we feel our supporters are behind us and give everything. Of course, at this time, sometimes after the game, they're not so happy with our performances but this is something we understand. But during the game, every time we have a corner or we have a good chance, you feel the whole stadium put a lot of pressure on the opponent and this is something that helps us a lot."

Captain since the turn of the year - Benjamin Stambouli is looking to put a stop to the Schalke rot in the Revierderby this weekend. - Bongarts/Getty Images/ Martin Rose

bundesliga.com: You've been leading out Schalke as the club's captain since the winter break. How does it feel to be the captain of the club?

Stambouli: "I could say that I’m proud to have been the captain of the team because our captain is normally Ralf Fährmann, but to be the second captain of the team is something that makes me proud, of course. I would like that we could have played a really big season, a great season, but that's the way it is. I just try to give my best for the team and give the most advice I can to try to help the team."

bundesliga.com: How would you describe your role in the team?

Stambouli: "First, I try to be myself. I think in the changing room I’m someone that likes to speak, I like the interaction between people, I like the social part of our job. We have to speak, we have to help each other, we have to be friends and sometimes brothers. Because on the pitch we know that nobody can win the game on their own, and we need to be together to win games and to perform for the whole season. So, I would say that I’m someone that tries to connect people with each other and then, of course, I try to be as good as possible because I need to perform for my team. It’s something I try to achieve every weekend."

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