SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga preview: will the well-oiled machine keep the class again?
–
By David Frey
Freiburg – The keyword is continuity! In the SC Freiburg squad there was a strong one Bundesliga season In 2020/21, in which it finished in tenth place, hardly any decisive changes. All top performers have stayed on board and, under the leadership of cult trainer Christian Streich (56), want to wrap up the relegation as soon as possible.
–
SC Freiburg has not yet had a top transfer
“The team’s impression is good, okay, everything is okay,” said a frugal prank when asked what he thinks of his current squad, which is essentially unchanged compared to the previous season. The relaxed reaction of the coach is completely understandable, as it was precisely these kickers who sometimes showed absolutely outstanding performances, such as in the 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund.
The Breisgauer have not made a top transfer so far, but it may well be that something will happen by the end of the transfer window. “We have to see what else happens, one way or the other,” said Streich.
A striker could still come.
–
Coach Christian Streich (56) is satisfied with the current squad of SC Freiburg. © Jonas Güttler / dpa
U21 European champion Nico Schlotterbeck back at SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg has not yet had a classic new addition. Of all the returning players on loan, only U21 is now the European champion Nico Schlotterbeck (21) there, who, however, left open a whereabouts in the Black Forest and avoided a confession.
“I’m not ruling anything out,” the central defender told the SWR. “I’ve played a good European Championship now and made a few good games in the second half of the season last year. I just have to see what the next step is for me.”
Otherwise, the SC Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu (19), the defenders Kimberly Ezekwem (20) and Kiliann Sildillia (19), the midfielders Noah Weißhaupt (19) and Kevin Schade (19) and the center forward Nishan Burkart (21) pulled out of the second Team up in the A-squad.
–
U21 European champion Nico Schlotterbeck (21, r.) Returned to SC Freiburg after being loaned to Union Berlin. The central defender could possibly leave the club before the end of the transfer window. © Daniel Karmann / dpa
Florian Müller, Chang-hoon Kwon and Amir Abrashi are the departures of SC Freiburg
As far as the departures are concerned, the loss of regular goalkeepers weighs in Florian Müller (23) Certainly the hardest. The 23-year-old on loan from 1. FSV Mainz 05 was seen as a sure source of support and is now the new number one at league competitor VfB Stuttgart, who signed Müller as the successor to Gregor Kobel (23, Borussia Dortmund).
with Chang-hoon Kwon (27) the SCF lost a player whom the prank gladly took off the bench. Last season, however, the right winger was out for a long time due to Corona and then due to a knee injury; he only got eleven short assignments. After Kwon’s contract with Baden expired in the summer, he moved to Suwon Samsung Bluewings in his South Korean homeland for free.
It also went to his home country for Amir Abrashi (31) back. The defensive midfielder is returning to the Swiss club Grasshopper Zurich after six years and 98 compulsory games in southwest Baden-Württemberg, from which he joined SC Freiburg in 2015 on a free transfer.
In addition, the Breisgauer finally separated from the Australian international Brandon Borrello (25). The offensive man was loaned to Fortuna Düsseldorf last season and was sold to second division promoted Dynamo Dresden in July.
In addition, third division club 1. FC Magdeburg left winger Florian Kath (26) after it was loaned to Saxony-Anhalt last season. Second division SV Sandhausen secured the services of left-backs Chima Okoroji (24).
goalkeeper Niclas Thiede (22) is loaned to SC Verl for one year. 1. FC Nürnberg borrows the central midfielder Lino Tempelmann (22). Six Patrick Kammerbauer (24) has to play for the second Freiburg team in the 3rd division for the time being.
By the end of the transfer window, it is very likely that one of the current five central defenders will leave the club. “When you have a lot of players in one position, it can of course happen that you can’t take everyone into account,” said Streich.
–
Goalkeeper Florian Müller (23) was on loan from 1. FSV Mainz 05 last season and showed strong performances for the Freiburg team. © Tom Weller / dpa
Preparation and form of SC Freiburg: Solid test game appearances, difficult start in the DFB-Pokal
“I actually say every year: It’s okay if nothing extraordinary has happened.” This is what the eternal head coach from Freiburg replied to the question of how he assesses the condition of his team after the preparation.
Indeed, there was no great cause for excitement or worry in the friendly matches. A 2-1 win against third division club 1. FC Saarbrücken was followed by a 0-0 win against strong Bundesliga rivals Bayer 04 Leverkusen. At the end of the preparation, the SCF then won 2-1 against the French first division team Racing Strasbourg, which is why they could go into the competitive game opener in the DFB Cup against the Würzburger Kickers with a clear conscience.
There the prank troop struggled to a 1-0 victory against the courageously playing third division side. Jonathan Schmid (31) scored the decisive goal in the 45th minute. Although Freiburg played lackluster, the result was okay.
However, Streich left some of his best starting line-up options such as strikers Roland Sallai (24) and Ermedin Demirovic (23) on the bench, which was against in the first Bundesliga game Arminia Bielefeld will certainly not be the case.
–
The players of SC Freiburg cheer after the 1-0 victory in the DFB Cup against the Würzburger Kickers in the Flyeralarm Arena. © Daniel Karmann / dpa
TAG24 forecast for SC Freiburg: Christian Streich coaches his team again to stay up
SC Freiburg is probably as well established as hardly any other club in the Bundesliga. This well-oiled machine definitely has the potential to keep the class again and if everything (!) Is going optimally even to play for the Conference League places.
Coach Streich has proven time and again in the past that he can squeeze the maximum out of his team. With his emotional manner, he sets the course and is also extremely popular with the players for his caring manner – one hears nothing of problems with team chemistry in Breisgau under his direction.
Freiburg’s captain and new national player Christian Günter (28), who is in the strongest phase of his career, acts as a prank extended arm on the pitch and leads the way as a real leader. The offensive quartet around Vincenzo Grifo (28), Nils Petersen (32), Roland Sallai and Ermedin Demirovic (23) is always good for goals.
–
Cover photo: Daniel Karmann / dpa
–
