Julian Schuster praises Freiburg’s patience after 2-0 victory over Union Berlin
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The Breisgau outfit had to work hard to break down a defensive-minded Union side at the Europa-Park Stadion, but second-half goals from Rani Khedira (OG) and Yuito Suzuki ensured they claimed all three points.
Speaking to Sportschau after the match, Schuster expressed his satisfaction with how his players carried out their game plan, particularly their ability to remain patient while waiting for opportunities.
“The joy is very great. Because we managed to implement what we had planned. It was clear that we needed patience. We showed that,” Schuster explained.
The Freiburg coach also highlighted the importance of maintaining belief in their own quality, even when clear-cut opportunities were difficult to come by.
“Maintaining belief, trusting our own quality and waiting for the right moments, even when they don’t come in great numbers. That was very disciplined,” he added.
Schuster was particularly pleased with the togetherness shown by his players, acknowledging that matches against opponents who prioritise defensive organisation can become frustrating.
“It can be frustrating, but it shouldn’t be. That is exactly the quality. Games like these can get into your head. It was important that the boys were there for each other,” he continued.
The Freiburg coach also praised the mutual understanding within his squad, describing the collective support between his players as something that was particularly pleasing to observe.
Defender Matthias Ginter echoed his coach’s assessment, having made his 200th Bundesliga appearance for Freiburg during Sunday’s victory.
“It’s generally never a walk in the park against Union Berlin,” Ginter told Sportschau, acknowledging the physical challenge posed by the visitors.
The experienced defender also pointed towards lessons learned from previous encounters with Union, explaining that Freiburg needed to remain committed to their approach rather than take unnecessary risks.
“It was important that we added the second goal and also hardly allowed anything,” Ginter explained.
The victory represents Freiburg’s fourth consecutive win in all competitions and moves them up to third place in the Bundesliga standings with 19 points after nine matches.
