The coming season will be tough for SC Freiburg: Bundesliga, DFB Cup and the Europa League. An exhausting triple effort. Some players have concerns, the coach is happy.
SC Freiburg is contesting its training camp in Schruns, Austria, for the 15th time. Coach Christian Streich knows the hotel staff and the area and appreciates the “great conditions and short distances”. No wonder the 57-year-old names Schruns as SC’s second home.
Great anticipation for the coming season
But despite all the fun and the idyll, the focus of the team is on work. The goal is clear: From Freiburg’s point of view, the coming season should also be as successful as possible. The anticipation for the upcoming season is great. “We’re allowed to play in the Bundesliga and Europa League. We worked hard for it and deserve it in sporting terms,” Streich summed up in an interview with SWR Sport. Europe: For SC Freiburg, that means not only prestige and the big stage, but also games during the week and a triple burden – in addition to the league and cup.
Concerns from players, anticipation from the coach
Captain Christian Günter spoke to Sky that this triple burden would “become extreme” for the team. Colleague Nils Petersen expressed concerns in kicker: “We’re always worried: can we do it in Europe, can we maintain our level?” But the coach doesn’t want to know anything about that. Streich knows about the challenges of the many English weeks, but: “It’s a mixture of many things: the stress, dealing with trips and defeats, how much do you analyze, what do you leave out, but that makes it great. We’re happy us.”
Convince newcomers around Gregoritsch and Ginter
In order to compensate for the challenges as well as possible in terms of sport, the sports club has strengthened its staff following the departure of players such as Nico Schlotterbeck and Ermedin Demirovic.
“If you can’t be integrated into our group, then you have a problem overall. There’s no better way for you to be accepted.”
One of the newcomers to Breisgau is the former child prodigy Michael Gregoritsch. He should help the Europa League participants with his “good physicality, strong left foot and presence on the pitch” (Ststreich). With Matthias Ginter, a familiar face is back at the sports club. Streich particularly praises the concentrated, focused appearance of the central defender, but at the same time warns against too much pressure and too many expectations. “We approach the matter with calm and humility […] He does not replace Nico Schlotterbeck and should not. He’s a completely different person,” says the SC coach.
Gregoritsch and Ginter are two of the six newcomers in Freiburg. Overall, Streich can currently fall back on a squad of 28 players. A considerable size, but not a disadvantage for the trainer. “We have failures, a lot of games, and competition is part of it,” says the coach, adding: “but we’re a homogeneous squad.” A squad that wants to make football Germany fun again in the coming season.
The arrivals and departures of SC Freiburg
–
