When Christian Streich is happy after the performances of his SC Freiburg like on Saturday after the 3-1 victory of his team at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, he reveals his elation undisguised and with a touching naturalness. The coach of the bottom of the table in the Bundesliga never hides. Neither on good nor on bad days when he fiddles with himself, his own people and the referees. He’s far too authentic for that. The 55-year-old soccer teacher, who was once a student teacher for sports, German studies and history, likes the people he interacts with on a daily basis.
His players, whom he gathers around him like a caring father of a large family, let themselves be bewitched once again these weeks by the very special spirit that is inherent in the inner workings of the sports club. Four weeks after they had reached the edge of the relegation zone due to a series of weaker games, they have now reached four wins en suite near the table positions that promise qualification for the Europa League. Talking about it speculatively is taboo in Freiburg. This is what captain Christian Günter said after the success in Sinsheim with goals from Santamaria (7th minute), Grifo (34th / penalty) and Adams with an own goal (42nd), which Bebou shot to 1: 3 (58th) was not affected: “If I start dreaming now and the coach hears it, then I don’t know if I’ll still play next week.”
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