Freiburg coach Schuster - "The battle for places is on"
SC Freiburg remained undefeated in preseason. Just under a week before the start of competitive matches, coach Julian Schuster answered questions from SWR Sport.
It is an eventful weekend for coach Julian Schuster of SC Freiburg: On Saturday his team played 2:2 against the Spanish first division club CA Osasuna in the dress rehearsal before the new season .
After the Osasuna match, Schuster also answered questions from SWR Sport. The 40-year-old is looking forward to the upcoming season with great motivation.
SWR Sport: Julian Schuster, how did the home game against Osasuna feel for you?
Julian Schuster: It was very nice—and very warm. I want to thank the fans who endured these temperatures for so long. It's great to be playing at home in front of so many spectators again. That increases the anticipation for the coming weeks.
What insights did you draw from the test match?
It was a very demanding opponent who played well, so we had a lot to work with. We were especially challenged when we had the ball; it was very intense. We had to put in a lot of effort, which was noticeable when we had the ball. Added to that was the lack of freshness, which is normal at this point. All in all, it was a very demanding package. But that makes me happy because it gives us topics to talk about. That's more important to me than a smooth test.
First, the "old-timers" played, then the "young guns" came along. How did you perceive that?
A few positions seem a bit clearer ahead of the start of competitive matches. Nevertheless, the match against Osasuna was another opportunity for everyone to show what they can do. The battle for places is on – and there were a few pointers that will help us.
To what extent do you already have the starting eleven in mind?
We still have a few spots available. That's what we told the guys.
Are you enjoying the six new additions?
Yes, otherwise we wouldn't have brought them in if they didn't have the potential to be fun. They have great personalities who fit in well. The guys have gelled well together—that's simply a good sign.
How do you feel about your first competitive game next week?
We were able to work very intensively during preseason and got almost all of our players through to the finals healthy. We've worked on the content and made good progress. Now we're excited that things are about to get started. The DFB Cup is always a challenge, even the first round, but we're competing to go very far.
In the aforementioned cup clash, Freiburg will face Sportfreunde Lotte (August 16, 6 p.m.). One week later, the Sport-Club's Bundesliga debut will be a home game against FC Augsburg (August 23, 3:30 p.m.).
Broadcast on Sunday, August 10, 2025, 2:30 p.m., SWR1 Baden-Württemberg
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