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Aston Villa is gearing up to face SC Freiburg in the Europa League final at Istanbul’s Besiktas Stadium next week. While Villa’s journey to the final has been characterized by their dominant performances, SC Freiburg, a club with a modest budget and no major trophies to their name, is relishing the opportunity to compete on such a grand stage. Freiburg, currently seventh in the Bundesliga, is striving to qualify for the UEFA Conference League next season and views this final as a significant achievement.
David Weigand said: “They don’t have a financier like Villa or a billionaire. It’s a classic members club, and the money the club makes is from selling their own players. They have a very good scouting section. They look for talents, for example, from the French second league, or like Johan Manzambi, a youth guy from Servette. They saw something in him. He has played now for two years in Freiburg, and I guess he’s valued at €40 million. Kevin Schade came out from the youth system in Freiburg, and they raised him up and sold him to Brentford. That’s the concept of Freiburg making talents great and selling them for bigger money. The squad value is around €191 million, and it’s about three times lower than Villa.”
David Weigand continued: “His [Julian Schuster] minus was he hadn’t any experience as a pro coach; he was the connection coach between the youth team, the second team, and the first team. But nobody expected that after two years as head coach, there would be such a success like going to the Europa League final. He is a very nice guy, I have known him personally for years, and he is the same way to everybody, it doesn’t matter whether it is a small fan or any guy in the streets who wants to talk with him, everyone loves him in Freiburg because he’s so easy to speak to.”
Freiburg’s head coach, Julian Schuster, has been pivotal in their journey to the final. Despite lacking professional coaching experience, Schuster has successfully led the team to unprecedented heights. His approach emphasizes a strong defense and a belief that games can be won by conceding fewer goals. This strategy was evident in their comeback victories against Genk and Braga in the knockout stages.
The team boasts a blend of experienced and emerging talents. Matthias Ginter, a local player, anchors the defense, while Maximilian Eggestein serves as the midfield’s strategic brain. Johan Manzambi, a promising No. 10, is seen as a potential breakout star, with hopes of a strong performance in the upcoming World Cup. However, Freiburg’s offensive capabilities are not as robust, and they have struggled with depth and late-game concessions.
Despite these challenges, the club’s spirit and fan support remain unwavering. Freiburg’s supporters are already planning a grand reception for the team, regardless of the final’s outcome. The anticipation and excitement surrounding this match mark a historic moment for the club, as they aim to surpass their previous best achievement of reaching the cup final in 2022.
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