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Killiann Sildillia is one of the winners of the pre-season at SC Freiburg. Against Augsburg, the 20-year-old showed that he is an option for the starting XI. In an unusual position.
The youth academy of FC Metz has produced quite a few well-known football professionals. Sadio Mané, the new star of FC Bayern Munich, or Moussa Niakhaté, who made the leap from FSV Mainz 05 to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this summer. Even Franck Ribery, nine-time German champion with Bayern, wore the shirt of the traditional French club until 2005.
Kiliann Sildillia, Freiburg’s discovery at right-back, also went through the FC Metz football school. He became part of the club at the age of eight and played in all the youth teams at the club from then on. However, it wasn’t enough for the breakthrough in Metz’s professional team, which oscillated between the first and third French leagues at this time. Instead, he moved to Freiburg, 250 kilometers away, in the summer of 2020.
Step by step: Regionalliga Südwest to Bundesliga
In the second team of the sports club in the Regionalliga Südwest, the attributes of the strong central defender were in demand. In his first season in Breisgau, Kiliann Sildillia made 36 starts. Due to his clever defensive play and his offensive qualities (seven goals), the then 18-year-old was instrumental in SC Freiburg II’s promotion to the 3rd division. His good performances did not go unnoticed by those responsible in the professional area, around trainer Christian Streich.
Killiann Sildillia showed his skills early on in SC Freiburg’s second team.
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The 1.86-metre-tall right-footer was able to collect nine minutes of action with the pros last season in the Bundesliga and in the DFB Cup, including his starting XI debut against RB Leipzig. Sildillia completed his first assignments in the top German division calmly and solidly. Remarkable when you consider that the young professional had previously only played in the fifth French division and the Regionalliga Südwest.
On the other hand, the youngster from the north-east of France has been measuring himself against the international youth elite in the French junior national teams for five years. Experiences that have undoubtedly strengthened his self-confidence.
Reward for a strong pre-season
The first professional assignments are no guarantee for more. Everyday hard work is part of Christian Streich’s job in order to establish himself in the sports club’s Bundesliga squad in the long term. Killiann Sildillia shows that he is well aware of this. In the pre-season, in which the trained central defender was retrained for the right-back position for the first time, he worked hard on his defensive and offensive game. In the 1-0 friendly win against the French first division club Stade Rennes, Sildillia then convinced with a routine defensive performance and some promising advances.
Christian Streich (centre) appreciates the qualities of his protégé Kiliann Sildillia (left)
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The Freiburg newcomer benefits from his speed and physique. Coach Christian Streich has words of praise for his protégé when talking to the kicker, but at the same time emphasizes the development potential that still exists. “He’s doing well in training, relatively calm and present,” said the 57-year-old. “He has to bring his aggressiveness and header power to the pitch.” Streich, on the other hand, still sees construction sites in the coaching of teammates, in flying balls or in the quality of his crosses.
First Bundesliga scorer point. Just a start.
It showed how important good crosses from Kiliann Sildillia can be for SC Freiburg’s game in the away win in Augsburg just after the restart of the second half. The young professional prevailed against two opponents on the right flank and then crossed precisely to the head of Michael Gregoritsch, who nodded the ball to the important 1-0 for Freiburg. For Sildillia it was the first scorer point in his young Bundesliga career.
It is very likely that many more will be added. After all, the new right-back in his current form has a good chance of collecting more minutes in the Freiburg jersey. In Metz, on the other hand, they will follow his development with a tear in their eye. The second division side, who were relegated this summer, could really use trained talent like Kiliann Sildillia.
