“Need to be prepared to put in the hard yards”

First Team
13.05.2021

SC Freiburg will host FC Bayern München in their final Bundesliga home game of 2020/21. The match will kick off at the Schwarzwald-Stadion at 15:30 CEST.

Freiburg’s 4-1 win in Cologne on Sunday was textbook in nearly every regard. The team would now like to be just as successful in their remaining two games this season, even if they will be up against a tough challenge in the forms of record champions FC Bayern München and Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt. 

“I don’t have any concerns about our motivation. Anyone who isn’t motivated when coming up against FC Bayern München is beyond my help,” said SC head coach Christian Streich on Friday. According to the coach, “We will need to be prepared to put in the hard yards. As soon as we lose possession, we will need to get back in position straight away and make the right runs in order to close any gaps up front. No other team will turn an intercepted pass into a goal as quickly as they do. We will need to be extremely quick and ready to push ourselves to the max.” Streich will have a full squad to choose from ahead of Saturday’s game. 

No one is expecting Bayern to take it easy this weekend, despite having already been crowned champions. There’s also the matter of Bayern’s star striker Robert Lewandowski, and the record he’s chasing. The Poland international is currently on 39 goals this season, and is just one short of equalling the legendary Gerd Müller’s all-time haul of 40 in 1971/72. “I really hope he breaks the record. But, hopefully it won’t be this weekend,” said Freiburg centre-back Philipp Lienhart, who recently extended his contract this week. “Ideally, we will be able to keep him at bay.”  

Streich will also be hoping for that to be the case, due to his connection to Müller. “[I] grew up with Gerd Müller, he was like a hero for us,” said Streich. “Personally, I would be happy if his record wasn’t broken. I think it would be nice if he (Ed. note: Lewandowski) were able to score a goal next weekend and share the record with Gerd Müller.” 

Freiburg still have a chance to finish in seventh, which would guarantee them a spot in the Europa Conference League play-offs next season. Currently sitting in ninth, SCF could also still finish ahead of Baden-Württemberg rivals VfB Stuttgart (currently 10th) and TSG Hoffenheim (11th). 

Photo: Achim Keller

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