Streich: Duel with West Ham “something very special” for SC Freiburg

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Clear difference in squad value

For coach Christian Streich, SC Freiburg’s first Europa League home game this season against West Ham United is “something very special”. He is “very happy that we can compete with such a Premier League team,” said the SC coach a day before the game against the previous season’s Conference League winners on Thursday (6.45 p.m./RTL+). . The English league is “undisputedly the strongest,” said Streich. “There’s someone sitting on the bench who cost 30 or 40 million.”

Wirtz in front: The most valuable players in the Europa League 2023/24

19. James Ward-Prowse – West Ham – Market value: €38m

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Data as of October 4, 2023

19. Jarrod Bowen – West Ham – Market value: €38m

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18. Ibrahima Konaté – Liverpool – Market value: €38m

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11. Andrew Robertson – Liverpool – Market value: €40m

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11. Romelu Lukaku – Roma – Market value: €40m

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11. Tammy Abraham – Roma – Market value: €40 million

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11. Mohammed Kudus – West Ham – Market value: €40m

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11. Jeremie Frimpong – Bayer Leverkusen – Market value: €40 million

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11. Yéremi Pino – Villarreal – Market value: €40 million

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11. Giorgio Scalvini – Atalanta – Market value: €40 million

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10. Lucas Paquetá – West Ham – Market value: €45m

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8. Diogo Jota – Liverpool – Market value: €50m

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8. Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool – Market value: €50m

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7. Cody Gakpo – Liverpool – Market value: €55 million

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3. Mohamed Salah – Liverpool – Market value: €65m

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3. Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool – Market value: €65m

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3. Darwin Nuñez – Liverpool – Market value: €65m

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3. Alexis Mac Allister – Liverpool – Market value: €65m

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2. Luis Díaz – Liverpool – Market value: €75m

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1. Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen – market value: €85 million

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For the sports club and Streich it is the first competitive game against a club from England. The coach, who has been on the sidelines for almost twelve years, has a positive record in Europe; last year he reached the knockout phase for the first time (lost in the round of 16 against Juventus Turin). In 15 games in the Europa League and two matches in qualifying, the 58-year-old won seven wins, five defeats and five draws.

Few games were more difficult than the task against West Ham. Of the 32 participants in 2023/24, only FC Liverpool (€830.7 million) and Bayer 04 Leverkusen (€446.1 million) have a higher squad value than the “Hammers” with 443.2 million euros. Freiburg is in the upper midfield with 164.4 million euros.

In the sold-out Europa-Park Stadium, the Bundesliga club can count on its fans; away fans will not be heard. West Ham supporters are not allowed due to a UEFA sanction. “I don’t miss them terribly, I’m more happy for the people in Freiburg and the surrounding area, so there are more seats for our fans,” said Streich. He hopes that his team will be more relaxed not only because of the support from the stands, but also because of the Bundesliga home win against FC Augsburg (2-0) last Sunday.

However, striker Michael Gregoritsch (calf problems) and midfielder Yannik Keitel (adductor problems) could be out. Nicolas Höfler should be in the starting line-up again for Keitel. Höfler is still suspended in the league, but is eligible to play internationally.

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