Freiburg (dpa / lsw) – There should not be too much dependence on individual players at SC Freiburg, says coach Christian Streich. And yet some have played a particularly important role in the fact that the sports club is fighting for international places in the Bundesliga at the end of the season. On the offensive is Vincenzo Grifo, who is the current top scorer in Breisgau with eight goals (four of them penalties) and nine assists. “I’m happy to be able to work with a player of this quality,” said Streich before the game against VfL Bochum on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky) about the 29-year-old noble technician.
Grifo is perhaps having his best phase in Freiburg at the moment. However, his trainer thinks that “all seasons with Vince were good”, even if he was “not always at the maximum level” in the last round – partly because of a corona infection.
This season, Grifo is “performing” again, as he likes to say himself – and at a consistently high level. “I’m very happy and feel very comfortable, everyone knows my story with Freiburg,” he said after the away win in Frankfurt (2-1) on DAZN last Sunday, “my teammates give me a good feeling, the coaching team knows me, and I’m the perfect soccer age.”
Grifo has returned to the sports club twice, most recently in September 2019. It didn’t work for him in Mönchengladbach and Hoffenheim. “He’s in the right club and in the right team, he can live it up there, that’s where his strengths come into play,” explained Streich. The offensive man has also continued to improve in defensive work. And his shooting technique remains one of Grifo’s best skills, which also contributes to Freiburg’s standard strength (already 22 goals this season from dead balls).
In Frankfurt, Grifo scored last weekend after a counterattack and made an imaginary phone call while celebrating. With whom, he didn’t want to reveal. It was a family gag, said the Italian born in Pforzheim. There has been speculation online as to whether he meant Italy coach Roberto Mancini should have called him ahead of the recent internationals. Then he might have been able to help prevent the Squadra Azzurra from being eliminated from the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Grifo now wants to realize international dreams with the SC. Qualifying for a European competition is still possible both in the league and via the DFB Cup. “We’re having an outstanding season and we’ve been aiming to continue in the same way over the last few weeks,” said Grifo. Three days after the league game against Bochum, the cup semi-final hit at Hamburger SV is already waiting.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220414-99-919592/5
–
