Coach Christian Streich from Bundesliga soccer club SC Freiburg has great respect for the Conference League winner before the second group game in the Europa League on Thursday (6.45 p.m./RTL+) against English Premier League club West Ham United.
“I have never played against an English team in a competition. This is something very special and a big challenge for us,” said Streich on Wednesday: “The Premier League is undisputedly the strongest league. I am very happy that we are “Be able to compete with such an established team from the league.”
The coach will probably have to do without the injured Michael Gregoritsch and Yannik Keitel. According to Streich, it is also “quite possible” that “we will make changes” in other positions compared to the most recent league game against FC Augsburg (2-0).
“You have to be smart and make good decisions against the ball. You have to be attentive,” said Streich: “We have to manage that. Then we also have a chance against West Ham. Our goal is to be on equal terms. “
European cracker, then away game at FC Bayern
The game in the Freiburg stadium is sold out (34,200 spectators), although there will be no visiting fans on site. The Londoners’ supporters were excluded from a European Cup away game after riots surrounding the final of the Conference League in Prague against AC Fiorentina (2-1).
The Breisgauer team won the start of the European Cup against the Greek record champions Olympiacos Piraeus (3:2). In addition to Piraeus and West Ham, Freiburg also faces Serbian club TSC Backa Topola in the group stage. Last season, the SC failed in the round of 16 against the Italian record champions Juventus Turin.
In the Bundesliga, Freiburg has to play against champions Bayern Munich in the upcoming game on Sunday (5:30 p.m./DAZN).