While Yannik Keitel is once again forced to take a break at SC Freiburg, Maximilian Eggestein has already acclimatised perfectly in the south. In the Baden derby against Hoffenheim, the ex-Bremer is considered to be set.
At the beginning of the season, it looked like Yannik Keitel could be getting closer to his ambitious goal of becoming a regular player at Sport-Club. Now the U-21 international has been slowed down by injury, not for the first time. “He got stuck in the turf,” reported coach Christian Streich, with Keitel suffering a torn muscle fibre in his adductor muscles. Even if there are no “adaptation problems” with the 21-year-old, who was often injured in his youth, “you have to dose him well with the strain”. In addition, he hasn’t played much lately, and that causes “psychological tension for the boys”. “Yannik is a very ambitious and very decent young man, a very great character, very reflective,” the SC coach praised the midfielder from the club’s own junior squad, “he has potential and we are convinced of him.” However, Streich hinted that Keitel may be putting himself under too much pressure.
Maxi would be a positive element in any team in the world.
In addition, he has gained a new competitor after the start of the season, who has seamlessly fitted into the well-established Freiburg team. Maximilian Eggestein has hardly needed any time to settle in, and that hasn’t surprised Streich: “Maxi would be a positive element in any team in the world because he is a warm, courteous, nice young man. Everyone would say that, even if you ask Florian Kohfeldt or anyone else.” In terms of football, he distinguishes himself by being able to anticipate well, having a very good right foot and “grip”. “In the final consequence, he still has potential to improve – he can develop more grace on the pitch,” said Streich. Even if he possibly suspects what that means, the ex-Bremer will probably have to look it up in the Baden dictionary. One could translate gädrig as unpleasant.
No prognosis yet with Schmid
Since joining Sport-Club in August, Eggestein has always made an appearance, and in the past nine games he has always been part of the starting eleven. That will also be the case in the home match against TSG Hoffenheim. Right-back Jonathan Schmid, on the other hand, will continue to only watch against his former club. After his serious Covid illness at the end of August/beginning of September, however, he has now rejoined team training. “He is in the duel and also goes into counter-pressing sometimes,” said Streich. There is a development to be seen, “and the values are fortunately also good”. However, he still did not want to make a prediction as to when the 31-year-old could be a serious option for the squad again. Schmid only played the first two games of the season, then the coronavirus ended his football year. For him, hope already lies in the second half of the season.