Michael Gregoritsch demands a change of coach, coach Christian Streich can understand his striker. At SC Freiburg, self-confidence seems to be growing ahead of the next English week despite losing the lead in the Bundesliga.
Freiburg (dpa / lsw) – Michael Gregoritsch took refuge in irony. “We now have to consider whether a change of coach is needed soon,” said the SC Freiburg striker. Of course, the Austrian didn’t take the criticism of coach Christian Streich seriously. Just as sarcastically he reprimanded himself and his teammates a little later: “We also have to look in the mirror and ask if that’s what we want.”
Because the sports club missed the return to the top of the table with the 0-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Nevertheless, the people of Breisgau are still in great shape after the first English week.
They are second after six matchdays in the Bundesliga. In the Europa League, the start was also successful with a 2-1 win over Karabakh Agdam. But in Breisgau nobody is still taking off. “I’m not interested in the table,” said Streich, who accepted his striker’s criticism with a smile. “He’s not often right, but of course he’s right about that,” said the 57-year-old coach on Sunday. “He will have his arguments for that.”
The relaxed way in which Freiburg started their first draw of the season shows how much confidence they have in their own strength. The mood should soon be even better if other top performers like Lucas Höler, who is currently injured, return. Kevin Schade already celebrated his comeback against Gladbach after surviving an abdominal muscle injury. The extra options will help last season’s cup finalists face the triple burden.
But neither Streich nor his professionals dare to dream in public. “The club’s philosophy is and will always be that you want to stay up first,” said goalkeeper Mark Flekken. “Of course, the 13 points and second place help us a lot.”
The Dutch goalkeeper and Borussia goalkeeper Yann Sommer were the dominant protagonists in a fast-paced game in which the attackers missed chance after chance. “That was a 0-0 of the better kind,” said Gregoritsch. “Unfortunately, we make the wrong decisions a couple of times in attack. But we can build on that performance.”
And the people of Baden-Württemberg can do that again and again. Because the progress is clearly recognizable in the consistent switching game and in the early and tireless start-up. It also fits on the defensive. Freiburg have not conceded a goal four times this season.
Even tiredness doesn’t matter after the first week on the European stage. Because despite the energy performance against Azerbaijan’s champions, Freiburg also had Mönchengladbach on the verge of defeat just three days later.
That’s why the sports club flies to the away game at Olympiacos Piraeus with a large portion of self-confidence in their luggage. And despite all the ironic criticism, Christian Streich will definitely be on the sidelines again on Thursday (6.45 p.m. / RTL).
