Freiburg have 22 points, twice as many as at the same time last season. SC veteran Nicolas Höfler puts this down to three personnel changes in the starting line-up. The deployment of two DFB players against Frankfurt is on the line.
The Sport-Club had a very weak start to the last season, with only eight points on their account after ten games, before they started an impressive recovery with five wins in a row from matchday 11 onwards. The squad did not change fundamentally in the summer, so why did the Breisgau side already have 22 points after ten games thanks to a club-internal starting record this time?
“Flekki has this special footballing component “
The few personnel changes at the Sport-Club, which benefits from great continuity in the management staff and in the team, are essential for the six-man, who has been set for years. In the person of Maximilian Eggestein, Höfler recently had a new partner in the centre. The ex-Bremer was the only external summer addition to replace SC record-breaker Baptiste Santamaria, who returned to France. In addition, Mark Flekken took his place in goal after an injury lay-off of almost a year, and centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck returned after his year on loan at Union Berlin.
“Flekki is really good on the line and in one-on-one and has this special footballing component,” praises Höfler: “When an opponent thinks I’m going to run at the goalkeeper so he has to hit it long, he lets him run into space and builds up flat from behind, hits or chips the ball to the teammate on the spot.” Flekken leads the kicker grading of goalkeepers with an average of 2.55.
“With Santa we were already in a good position, but Maxi does it even better “
The younger Schlotterbeck brother is currently the fourth-best outfield player behind strikers Haaland, Lewandowski and Poulsen with the identical figure. He has continued to mature in the capital, arriving as a freshly-crowned European U-21 champion and his outstanding performances launched him through to the senior national team. “Schlotti pairs footballing class with great tackling ability. That is especially important for us when you know you can sometimes leave a centre-back standing in a one-on-one,” says Höfler.
And his new colleague in the midfield engine room? “With Santa we were already in a good position, but Maxi does it even better with his good understanding of the game and the communication is of course easier. It just fits and feels like he’s been with us for a while. There must be players on the bench right now who have played the last few years. They could also play now without any problems. That speaks for the quality we have with us now. “
This has also increased due to individual improvement in the stock line-up. “What makes us much better is the fact that Lucas Höler holds balls very well up front or extends them with his head. There were phases in the last year where long balls came forward, we lost them, then the second and third wave of the opponent came. Now we can get out of trouble better, escape the opponent’s pressing,” Höfler complimented his colleague with the very similar surname, who is hard to imagine a team without, especially as a top striker.
Will Schade and Schlotterbeck be absent against Frankfurt?
Kevin Schade, who was promoted from his own U23 team in the summer, has occasionally been a breath of fresh air for the league’s surprise team. However, the 19-year-old is in danger of dropping out for Sunday’s match against Eintracht Frankfurt. After a blow to his calf, the offensive player had to be substituted early on during the Germany U 21 match against San Marino on Tuesday evening. “Under pressure, the calf hurts. But I have the information from our doc that it probably won’t last that long,” said DFB coach Antonio Di Salvo.
The deployment of Nico Schlotterbeck, praised by Höfler, is also in doubt. Due to muscular problems, the dynamic left-footer did not even travel to the senior national team this time and has presumably missed his planned debut after two call-ups without an appearance. On Thursday, the 21-year-old’s fitness will be tested.
