Michel on the duel with Freiburg: “It will be a mammoth task”

When the seventh-placed 1. FC Union takes on the European duel at the fourth SC Freiburg on Saturday, it could also depend on Sven Michel again. The Irons attacker, who recently impressed as a joker, is confident about the difficult task in Breisgau despite the setback against Fürth.

Most recently convinced by the bank: Sven Michel.

IMAGO/Matthias Koch

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After moving from second division club SC Paderborn to Bundesliga club 1. FC Union in winter, he needed some time to get started with the Irons. “But now,” says Sven Michel, “I’m here.” And how.

In the last four league games, the attacker scored three goals and one assist – each as a joker. After he ended the 4-1 derby at Hertha BSC and played a decisive role in the 2-1 win at RB Leipzig with a goal and an assist, he saved Union from a bitter defeat in the 1-1 draw against relegated Greuther Fürth . Now he is hoping for a place in the starting eleven in the European duel at SC Freiburg (Saturday, 3.30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker).

“I’m a footballer, I always want to play from the start. But that’s up to the coach to decide. If that’s not the case, I’ll try to get one off the bench again,” says Michel, the Union coach However, Urs Fischer could also play as a substitute because of the 31-year-old’s joker qualities. Or? “That may be the case,” Michel replies, “but as a player you don’t want to hear the coach say: You score well from the bench, so you stay on the bench…”

“Freiburg are a robust team”

Whether with Michel in the starting XI or as a joker, Union needs a win in Freiburg if the Irons want to attack the Europa League or even the Champions League ranks. They are four points behind Freiburg and five points ahead of Hoffenheim. Participation in the Europa Conference League again is within reach, but there should be more. “Freiburg are a robust team. They also go where it hurts. But so are we. I think it will be a very balanced game, on a knife edge, and then let’s hope that that little bit of luck is on our side is,” says Michel before the duel with fourth in the table and explains: “Freiburg in the new stadium – that will be a mammoth task. But if you are successful in Leipzig, why shouldn’t you also be successful in Freiburg.”

Union wants to orientate itself on the 2-1 victory over RB in the league – three days after the end of the cup semifinals in the same place (1: 2) – but not on the meager draw against Fürth last Friday, in which the FCU disappointed, especially in the first half. The 1: 1 against the Franks should be ticked off. “We were very annoyed, would have liked to keep three points here. But I’m not worried that the boys are still thinking about it,” says Michel, emphasizing: “We have to go back to what we did against Leipzig have put on the pitch. If we can put that on the pitch in Freiburg, we have very, very good cards.”

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