The narrow defeat at Sporting Braga in the first semi-final of the Europa League did not concern SC Freiburg for long. Because the sports club speaks from experience.
“That was a hard blow to the neck,” said Philipp Treu SC Freiburg’s 1-2 defeat in the Europa League semi-final first leg at Sporting Braga. “It also hurts extremely.” Because the decisive goal only came in stoppage time. “To a certain extent I have anger in my stomach,” said the 25-year-old in an interview with SWR Sport. But just a few minutes after the final whistle, his anger was mixed with confidence again: “I think I had that too after the Genk game. And we all know what happened in the second leg.” SC Freiburg swept the Belgians out of the stadium 5-1“and that’s what we need to take with us now.”
SC Freiburg with experience and confidence
Julian Schuster noted the words benevolently: “The reaction I heard outside is again exemplary for me: this mixture of anger over the late goal and focus,” said the coach. Because his players didn’t want to dwell on the setback for long and would rather concentrate on the second leg. “We have often managed to draw the right conclusions from defeats, keep our faith and go one better with our qualities, especially at home.”
SC Freiburg wants to analyze its own weaknesses
Despite all the confidence, a few facts also need to be discussed. It’s not just about “the first ten minutes and the last ten minutes” with which Treu “didn’t really agree”. “Yes, the game will definitely be analyzed again,” said Treu. It also has to be about the sports club allowing itself to be caught off guard by a simple chip ball in the final phase, that Atubolu deflects Vitor Carvalho’s very central shot right at the feet of Mario Dorgeles and then there is no one there to prevent the Ivorian from scoring the winning goal. “This is so unnecessary, unbelievable,” said Atubolu on RTL.
Midfield strategist Maximilian Eggestein, however, defended his keeper: “Atu can even save the first one and the rebound then goes in – yes…” Julian Schuster definitely needs improvement: “You have to expect us to be able to defend better not only on the last goal, but also on the first goal,” complained Schuster. The starting point for the reunion on Thursday (9 p.m. live in the audio stream on SWR Sport) has worsened as a result. Nevertheless, the dream of the final in Istanbul on May 20th is alive. There the Breisgauers could meet Nottingham Forest or Aston Villa (first leg 1-0).
SC Freiburg is already looking forward to the second leg
But this also means that Vincenzo Grifo can equalize Demir EgeTiknaz’s early goal (8th) just as quickly (16th) and then Atubolu parries a penalty from Rodrigo Zalazar shortly before the break “of course great” (Eggestein). That’s why Atubolu rightly said: “Nothing is over.” Because “you just have to score one goal and then you’re back in the game,” said Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic happily, “and then it can get very, very unpleasant with our fans in our stadium and I’m very, very hot, I have to say.”
After all, he also has a small score to settle with Braga: “I looked at the Prague fans in the stands, who were very, very arrogant towards us. And I’m already looking forward to the second leg. Really.”
