Keven Schlotterbeck had to take a back seat most of the time after his Olympic participation in the summer. In his two starting appearances this season, the 24-year-old from Freiburg convinced with his fighting spirit.
The first half of the season couldn’t have been much more different for the Schlotterbeck brothers: While Nico (22) rose to become a regular player at SC Freiburg, travelled to the German national team and was ranked first in the international class in the German football rankings, Keven (24) has had a rather complicated six months.
After the Olympics, a thin balance sheet
Although the elder of the Schlotterbecks also wore the German jersey at the Olympics in Tokyo, things went more badly than well in the Bundesliga afterwards. Only one starting appearance against Union Berlin (0:0), plus another in the cup against VfL Osnabrück (3:2 after penalty shootout), otherwise five substitutions. A thin balance sheet.
Last season, Keven Schlotterbeck was still a regular member of SC coach Christian Streich’s regular staff. His statistics showed a total of 18 starting appearances – even though he was hampered by a muscle injury during the preparation phase. But Schlotterbeck fought his way into the team after his loan to Union Berlin in the 19/20 season, mostly as a central link in Freiburg’s three-man backline. The Olympic nomination was the deserved reward.
Big competition in the defence
This season things were more difficult. Schlotterbeck brought back physical deficits from Japan and in the competition between five centre-backs, brother Nico, Philipp Lienhart and – in a three-man defence – Manuel Gulde had the edge. In the summer, even a loan was an issue to ease the situation. Dominique Heintz, who received even less consideration, now left Südbaden for Union Berlin shortly before Christmas.
Union game as confirmation and new motivation
Giving up is not the Schlotterbecks’ thing. In Osnabrück, Keven convinced with his fighting spirit and as the scorer of the goal to save the 2:2. In December, he was substituted three times and found his way back into the starting line-up in the Union game. Side by side he defended with brother Nico, who had also played a year in the German capital in 2020/21.
With both Schlotterbecks, Lienhart and Gulde, four defenders are now competing for two or three central places in defence in Breisgau. In addition, there is talent Kiliann Sildillia. Still not an easy situation. But the fighting spirit is there.
