In truth, everything has already been said. Every superlative has been used, every tribute paid. Or, as Noah Atubolu so eloquently put it after SC booked their place in the final against Braga: “Mate, we’ve done enough talking.”

It is hard to find words for the past few months – and for the historic final that now awaits in the Turkish capital – that truly do the occasion justice. Julian Schuster still gave it a go at the press conference on the eve of the game: “I’m incredibly grateful for these moments and this development. I feel a huge passion for the work we do at our club and for helping the players improve.”

This will be just the second major final in SC Freiburg’s history. Several players still in the squad today were involved in the narrow DFB-Pokal final defeat to Leipzig in May 2022, and know from experience just how intense and unforgettable that trip to Berlin was.

Maximilian Eggestein and Christian Günter, who both also appeared at the pre-match press conference, were among them. “We’re obviously hugely excited. We’d love to get out there and play the game right now. Wednesday will be a very special day for us and for the club,” Günter said with a broad grin. “We came close a few years ago but unfortunately weren’t able to pull it off. You don’t get opportunities like this very often in your career, which is another reason why we want to take this one,” added Eggestein.

The midfielder is well aware of how tough the task against their English opponents will be. “Aston Villa are very streetwise and have a lot of experience. They understand the game and its different phases extremely well. We know what’s coming tomorrow.” SC may go into the game as underdogs against the side sitting fourth in the Premier League, but that does not have to be a disadvantage. “Everyone has real belief that we can take this next step,” Schuster stressed.

The pressure should at least have eased a little after the 4-1 win over Leipzig on the final day and the certainty of a place in the Conference League play-offs at minimum. At the end of a remarkable European journey that has taken SC to France, Spain, Portugal, Czechia, Belgium and Italy, there is nothing left to lose in their 54th competitive match of the season. There is, however, a European trophy and possible Champions League qualification to win.

The Freiburg coaching staff have plenty of options available ahead of the Europa League final. Yuito Suzuki is the only confirmed absentee, while Patrick Osterhage and Max Rosenfelder, who have both spent an extended period on the sidelines, have travelled with the squad.

As in Berlin four years ago, SC will be backed by thousands of fans in Istanbul. 11,000 tickets were made available and all 11,000 were snapped up online within minutes. Many more Freiburg supporters have secured tickets in neutral areas or made the journey to Türkiye in the hope of still getting hold of one. Günter also underlined how important that support will be in the final: “It gives us energy. We’ll give everything for the fans and do all we can to make this dream come true.”

Now the speaking is well and truly done. 90 minutes – or potentially longer – is all that is between SC and European glory.

Photo: SC Freiburg